Kenya Senate forms team to probe national carrier Kenya Airways

The Senate has formed a select committee to conduct an inquiry into the woes affecting the national carrier, Kenya Airways, even as legislators cautioned that unless drastic measures are taken, the "Pride of Africa" will collapse.

The House established an 11-member team to look into the challenges facing the carrier and make recommendations on possible ways of saving it from insolvency.

Moving the motion for the establishment of the select committee, Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyong’o said Kenya Airways was already reeling in huge debt, now at Sh18 billion, and had lost its market within the region to both Ethiopia Airlines and Rwanda Air.

Nyong’o said affairs at KQ, where the Government has 29.8 per cent shareholding, had reached worrying levels and it could easily go under unless a bailout plan is mooted urgently.

"We are looking at Kenya Airways fast resigning as the pride of Africa. It is no longer the company that it was after the Sh6 billion bail out of 1996, when it gained ground and was competing with international airlines," said Nyong’o.

He added, "If left unchecked, given the company management is not putting up measures to turn it around, the company will simply collapse".

The select committee is expected to inquire into the leasing and buying of aircraft since 1996 and the role of the alleged offshore companies in the investment affairs of the airline.

The senators are also tasked with unmasking the faces behind the alleged off shore companies and their relationship with the management of Kenya Airways.

The committee will also establish reasons for delayed and cancelled flights, their frequency and magnitude of losses.