Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is now accusing striking Kenya Airways pilots of economic sabotage.
Murkomen terms the ongoing strike by the Airways pilots as illegal and an attempt to sabotage the economy.
“The action taken by the pilots, considering the economic challenges and the biting drought is akin to economic sabotage,” Murkomen said ,
According to KQ, the strike has grounded over 15 flights, affecting more than 10,000 passengers.
“I have been briefed by the Kenya Airways management that they working with other airlines to reroute some of the connecting passengers even as we seek a lasting solution to the challenge at hand,” Murkomen said.
Kenya Airways pilots made their threat to go on strike from Saturday, paralyzing their airline’s operations.
KQ says the strike will cost it Sh300 million a day and Sh2.1 billion a week.
No deal yet
Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport) and Florence Bore (Labour) met the airline and union officials on Friday night.
The meeting however bore no fruit and was set to resume on Saturday.
KQ Chief Executive Officer Allan Kilavuka described the strike as “unlawful, ill-timed and unnecessary.
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He says the strike will delay and disrupt the KQ’s ability to recover and eventually get the airline back to meeting all its obligations.”
The pilots are accusing the airline of withdrawing the staff provident fund, victimization and harassment of union officials and KALPA members.
At the same time they are protesting non-adherence to regulations and the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) as well as leadership and governance issues affecting them.
Transport CS Murkomen and his Labour counterpart Bore have assured that they are still in talks with the union and airline officials to unlock the stalemate.
“We are still negotiating with them and we are confident that we will find a solution,” Murkomen said, “we are urging the union to call off the strike and give dialogue a chance.”