Advertisement

Parliament probes Kenya Airways failure to pick President Museveni

Monday March 16 2015
kq

Kenyan Parliament has started investigations into failure by Kenya Airways (KQ) to honour a request by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni to have its Kampala-bound flight pick him at his rural town, Mbarara for Nairobi to take part in a regional Heads of State summit. PHOTO | FILE

Kenyan Parliament has started investigations into failure by Kenya Airways (KQ) to honour a request by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni to have its Kampala-bound flight pick him at his rural town, Mbarara for Nairobi to take part in a regional Heads of State summit, Kenyan media reports.

Eventually, Mr Museveni arrived for the East African Community summit, that was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre on February 20, on an Ethiopian Airline's aircraft.

READ: Infrastructure projects to top agenda at EAC leaders’ summit

The decision, which KQ on Sunday termed "regrettable", has raised eyebrows given the fact that Uganda has given the airline vast rights to use its space for regional and international flights, The Standard reported.

When asked on the matter, Uganda Media Centre boss, Ofwono Opondo said he was not aware of the incident and referred this reporter to the state house deputy press secretary, Ms Linda Nabusayi. Our repeated phone calls and text messages to Ms Nabusayi went unanswered.

However, when contacted on Monday, the Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson, Mr Fred Opolot said the incident is insignificant as far as Uganda-Kenya diplomatic relation is concerned.

Advertisement

“I am not aware of the incident. However, it is so insignificant and cannot cause a standoff between the two countries,” said Mr Opolot.

But the airline, it is understood, has its own firm reasons for failing to meet the requests.

Kenya’s National Assembly committee on Foreign Relations and Defence is seeking answers from the Kenyan government and management of KQ over the incident. The Kenyan Government and the Royal Netherlands's KLM group have a controlling stake in KQ.

Transport Cabinet Secretary, Mr Michael Kamau, in whose docket the airline falls and his Foreign Affairs counterpart Ms Amina Mohamed, have been summoned by the Tetu MP Ndung'u Gethenji-led committee to explain circumstances under which the national carrier declined the request for a short flight.

"We are informed that KQ declined the request, compelling Yoweri Museveni to seek the services of Ethiopian Airline. Museveni is the senior-most head of state from the region and for KQ to decline his request to fly him to a forum chaired by our own president is very embarrassing," Gethenji said.

Mr Museveni reportedly expressed to President Uhuru his frustrations over the matter, prompting the House committee to pick up the matter. Presidents Pierre Nkurunzinza (Burundi), Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) attended the conference.

The committee resolved on its own motion to summon CSs Kamau and Amina and the management of KQ and CS Amina to establish facts about the incident.

On Sunday, KQ CEO Mbuvi Ngunze reportedly acknowledged the incident which he termed as a misunderstanding that has since been addressed.

"The incident was a misunderstanding that has since been cleared. KQ is always honoured to serve the region and Africa," Mr Ngunze said.

Advertisement