TOURISM CABINET SECRETARY DROPS HINTS OF MAJOR CHANGES AT KENYA AIRWAYS
(Posted 13th October 2016)
When, following the official opening yesterday of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo, Cabinet Secretary Hon. Najib Balala took questions from the media, did the focus shift quickly to Kenya Airways.
Balala had in his opening address warned unions to call off their strike threat against the national airline, citing inherent dangers to sabotage the recovery agenda which is presently unfolding and is already showing some very significant positive results.
He at the same time volunteered information that a cabinet subcommittee was dealing with both the strike threat and the need to speed up the national airline’s recovery programme to see Kenya Airways return to profitability sooner rather than later. He stood by the airline when he said that the contributions of the national carrier to tourism were enormous, not just for Kenya but for the entire Eastern African region.
He then went on to mention that within a month the Kenyan government would make major announcements as to changes planned for the airline but was prompt to give a reassurance that financial and reporting requirements for publicly listed companies – Kenya Airways is listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange – would be met to the fullest extend, removing doubts that whatever was being planned could be in violation of respective stock exchange regulations.
No doubt will the very recent release of a forensic audit by Deloitte, which government and other shareholders now have access to, form the foundation for whatever action is being planned but already have voices emerged that those found guilty of serious financial infringements, would be taken to court and prosecuted to the full extend of the law.
How far this will go only time will tell so watch this space for upcoming news and updates.
