Aviation stakeholders have said that they will seek redress in the Industrial Court to prevent KQ from taking over JKIA.
The stakeholders who spoke to Hot News on condition of anonymity said that they are not happy with the way the government is rushing the process.
They added that the government has only poured cold water on the recent postponed strike by Civil Aviation Workers Union.
“It’s do or die for us. We will fight till the plan is abandoned. We will ask Okiya Omtata and all Kenyans of goodwill to assist us,” they said.
Last week, Transport CS James Macharia dismissed claims that some staff at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will lose their jobs if KQ takes over from KAA.
Macharia said as a result of continuous engagements between the government and representatives of the workers, the Civil Aviation Workers Union has decided to suspend the strike notice issued against KAA to allow for further consultations.
However, several stakeholders aren’t satisfied with the government’s explanation and have vowed to fight the battle in court.
Some of the reasons they have given as to why they are opposed to the takeover are that Kenya Airways management is incompetent and that KQ has been making loses.
“KAA should be the one taking over KQ. KQ is a private entity and it should not take over JKIA which is managed by KAA,” said a stakeholder who requested anonymity.
On 31st January, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) was forced to cancel all stakeholders consultative forums on Kenya Airways (KQs) bid to take over the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The cancellation was after several stakeholders in the Aviation sector complained that they have not read the Privately Initiated Investment Proposal (PIIP) from KQ to manage JKIA for 30 years.
They had earlier threatened to boycott the forum.
“All stakeholders and public forum sessions postponed. New dates will be communicated, “Read a text message from KAAs communication head Angela Cherono.
Speaking to Hot News, some stakeholders said they will boycott the forum because they have not been provided with details in the (PIIP).
They said they cannot attend a meeting and be forced to participate yet they do not know what the PIIP contains.
However, KQ has said the proposal to acquire and manage JKIA is aimed at making the Airline competitive in the region and ensuring it makes profit.