Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau has said under funding of the Kenya Airways has made it lose as the preferred carrier in the region, with Ethiopia Airlines capitalising to claim the market.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau
Kamau admitted to the Senate’s Committee on Energy and Transport that the Government has not come to the aid of the national carrier in its time of financial woes, comparing poorly to Ethiopia that has been financially assisting her national carrier.
He said the Ethiopia Airlines, which was playing second fiddle to Kenya Airways a few years back in the number of passengers it carried, had dislodged the local airline following heavy investment into the airline by the government.
The Cabinet Secretary said the national carrier has been forced to park some of its aircrafts in Kisumu, Mombasa, Kilimanjaro and Entebbe since there was no space at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Members of the committee chaired by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi had summoned the Kamau and his Principal Secretary Nduva Muli to shed light on the operations at Kenya Airways.
Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang said the Government should consider pumping more money into the Kenya Airways to make it compete fairly in the aviation industry.
“Ethiopia as a country is investing in their airline,” said Kajwang’.
At the same time, Kamau said the Government was considering changing the ownership of Kenya Airways in a bid to boost its efficiency and improve its operations.
