PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE UNEARTH'S GRAVE DISCRIMANATION AND CORRUPTION PRACTICES AT KENYA AIRWAYS

A hearing by the parliamentary committee on labor has unearthed what could be grave corruption and discrimination at Kenya airways. The committee that was sent up by the national assembly to address the issue of retrenchment by the airline heard that the company might have targeted workers based on gender with pregnant and sick employees. The Sofia Abdi led committee has also heard of cases where the airline bought second hand jets worth billions in pretense they were new. and what was supposed to be a hearing that was meant to address the issue of retrenchment widely thought to be cost cutting measures slowly turned to be a story of breaches of the constitution and unlawful procurement practices. As soon as the committee started it emerged from those affected that the airline could have targeted people based on the gender with among those affected being pregnant employees and those already in maternity. The committee heard in disbelief how the company fired employees withdrawing their services while on duty some whom are said to have been fired midair exposing the passengers to grave harm. Those affected told horrifying stories of how the company withdrew medical insurance with some who were in hospital now unable to clear their bills. Similar questions were asked on KQs hiring of foreigners despite having fired 600 Kenyans.the union told the committee how the company had already gone ahead and employed foreigners mostly from India, Thailand,Ghana, Cameroon, Rwanda and Uganda who were being paid huge salaries almost triple their local colleagues. Aviation and allied workers chairperson Perpetua Mutua shocked the committee with revelations of rampant corruption and impunity at Kenya airways. Mutua told the committee that most of the recently acquired aircraft that were said to be new were in fact second hand with one having been used in Hong Kong for more than six years. She also revealed of an incidence where two new Embraer aero planes have surprisingly had similar serial numbers. The union rejected claims that KQs wage bill was as large as said putting the figure at 8.5b against Naikunis 13.4 billion. The committee is expected to continue with its hearings tomorrow where transport minister Amos Kimunya will be questioned.