A section of Kenyan social media users attacked Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria for expressing his frustration with the JKIA strike, which he stated that made him be stranded at the airport.
Following a strike by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), which has paralysed operations at the transport hub, Kuria took to social media expressing his frustration.
“We are stranded at JKIA since 3am. All flights grounded. All Kenya Airports Authority Workers (KAWU) under CEO Jonny Andersen are on strike,” the legislator decried.
Three hours later, the MP took again to Facebook expressing his discontent in the manner the riot was being handled.
“The damage we are doing to our competitiveness as a regional hub is unthinkable.
“Five hours down the line no one from the Board or Management of Kenya Airports Authority is here to even talk to stranded passengers,” Kuria raised concern.
However, a section of netizens took issue with his remarks indicating that ordinary Kenyans face worse challenges on daily basis.
“We Githiga people tunakuanga stranded hapo Kaka jioni and we don’t post tunaingianga za Githunguri tunaenda kujipangia mbele riu onawe wìfange,” (When we are stranded on roads, we don’t complain on social media. We look for alternative routes and you should do the same),” one Lizzy Daniel stated.
Mutinda Maingi added, “Having such kind of problems is a blessing. When we are stranded at Cabanas, we don’t post, pambana na hali yako (deal with your situation). I pray to God to give me such stress”.
“Kila mtu apambane na hali yake (Everybody has their struggles)… I am at Embaringo in Kieni, I missed the first car by less than 10 minutes,am now forced to wait for the 11 O’clock matatu or walk to Kiawara a distance of 60 Kms… pambana na hali yako boss (Handle your struggles),” Venasia Matu quipped.
Kuria has in the past proposed passing a law that would have select professionals banned from going on strike.
Speaking during the funeral service of Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki’s mother, Kuria stated that Parliament ought to pass legislation that would ban medics and teachers as well as pilots from engaging in industrial action.
“Things like health, education and pilots, we enact laws in Parliament Mr. Speaker so that those people cannot go on strike,” he declared.