KQ: Why We Refused To Pick Museveni From His Village Home

Airport restrictions prevented Kenya Airways from picking Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni from Uganda on February 20, an official has said.

“We wish to clarify that there are operational restrictions at the Gulu Airport in Uganda where the charter was to operate from,” CEO Mbuzi Ngunze said in a statement on Monday.

“This was communicated and accepted by the customer (the government of Uganda) who is a regular charter customer.”

KQ statement did not name Museveni as the customer, but the government of Uganda.

Museveni had requested the flight to Nairobi from his home in Western Uganda to attend the 16th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State held at the KICC, Nairobi, said a Standard newspaper story published on Monday.

The National Assembly Committee on Foreign Relations and Defence is however set to question KQ officials over the incident which reportedly jolted diplomatic relations between Kenya and Uganda.

The committee chaired by Tetu MP Ndung’u Gethenji summoned Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohammed and Transport’s Michael Kamau for an explanation.

“We are informed that KQ declined the request, compelling HE Yoweri Museveni to seek the services of Ethiopian Airlines. Museveni is the senior-most Head of State from the region and for KQ to decline his request to fly him to a forum chaired by our own President is very embarrassing,” noted Gethenji.

Museveni’s jet was reportedly under repair at the time of the summit. It is said that his request for a chartered flight, after KQ’s ‘snub’ was also declined.

– See more at: The Star