The JKIA takeover has left the house of legislatures in division after critical question that remain unanswered were quoted.
Led by Embakasi east MP, Hon Babu Owino, a section of the MPs are opposed to the merge as it will result to job looses.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino threatens to lead daily demonstrations against the proposed takeover of JKIA by Kenya Airways. #NTVAtOne @VictorKiprop_ pic.twitter.com/PboKwsBRUv— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) March 6, 2019
Babu Owino says that anybody suggesting that the merge is progressive is being mischievous. Last year, under the management of KAA, JKIA won the acclaimed award for Africa’s Airport of the Year for its excellence in air cargo at a ceremony held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
However, Babu questions on what grounds is JKIA been taken over by a KAA that reported a net loss of 4 billion shillings in 2018 and 5.6 billion shillings in 2017?
Kenya Airways’ debt collectively stands at over 100 billion shillings!In an adjournment motion by Mumias East MP Bernard Washiali, some of MPs called for the sacking of members of the Kenya Airport Workers Union (Kawu) for downing their tools. But others accused the management of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Kenya Airways (KQ) of subjecting the country to embarrassing moments.
Some of the questions being asked are?
This move must be opposed by everybody who means well for Kenya.
More specifically, JKIA lies in my constituency and I oppose this take over because of the potential job losses that will result. #JKIA— Babu Owino (@Babu_Owino) March 6, 2019
We are meant to be creating jobs for Kenyans not destroying lives. I will not allow a single person employed by KAA to be sent home as a result of the selfish and greedy ambitions of a few people trying to force this deal through for their own aggrandizement! #JKIA— Babu Owino (@Babu_Owino) March 6, 2019
How can JKIA which is fast becoming a continental leader be taken over by KQ which continues to be a public embarrassment?
JKIA has in recent years moved from strength to strength while KQ has moved into financial doldrums. #JKIA— Babu Owino (@Babu_Owino) March 6, 2019
Kawu called the strike to oppose the proposed takeover of JKIA by the financially crippled KQ over fears that they are likely to lose their jobs.
Although Kawu issued a 21-day strike notice in protest over the planned takeover, it appears that Cabinet secretaries James Macharia (Transport and Infrastructure) and Ukur Yattani (Labour) may have done little to save the country from the losses caused by the cancellation of flights.
Mr Washiali claimed that over Sh500 million was lost Wednesday alone due to the cancellation of flights and bookings of passengers in hotels as the strike persisted.