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{
    "id": 1341525,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1341525/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 128,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dagoretti South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Kiarie",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the amendments to Articles of the Convention on International Civil Aviation 1944 (Chicago Convention). There is a very vibrant aviation industry that is beckoning. However, East Africa is lagging behind. My biggest concern beyond the Convention on International Civil Aviation 1944 that we are seeking to amend today is the fact that we must reconsider how we attend to aviation matters in this country even as we move as East Africa. As we speak, it looks like we are very keen to look at what is happening in the region, but when we get home, that is where we draw the line. We have a national carrier that is on its knees. Each Member here will tell you that Kenya Airways is in the doldrums. As we support the amendments to the Convention on International Civil Aviation 1944, we have to know that if we are looking forward to a vibrant aviation industry, we will need to go back and check the aviation industry in our home country. The Kenya Airways is a critical matter that we cannot ignore as we discuss this Motion. There are issues that need to be addressed on the national carrier. One, why is the national carrier perennially registering losses? This can only point to one issue of management and governance. This House shall not continue to hide its head in the sand. The national carrier is facing a governance crisis. If we study other airlines that are doing well in the globe, we will find out that they have two very critical components on their boards of management. For starters, the boards of airlines that are doing well have pilots and engineers sitting on them. These are people who understand aviation. However, that is not the case for Kenya Airways. In Kenya Airways, they have a way of bringing in bankers, human resource and finance people. Ultimately, this locks out professionals who are pilots and engineers. We must remedy that. Two, is the issue of the people working for Kenya Airways. As we amend the Convention on International Civil Aviation 1944, back at home, Kenya Airways - which was one of the great employers - is an embarrassment. That is why the airline is bleeding talent left, right and centre. Our pilots and engineers are taking off and our air hosts and hostesses are running away. All this is pointing at the mis-governance at the highest level. Three, we have an airline that has packed a Dreamliner. Statistics have shown that when a Dreamliner is operational, it brings in close to US$1 billion per flight. That money can do well by contributing to the forex earnings of this country. We have Dreamliners that are packed at the airport hangers. This also points to mismanagement. The point I am trying to make is that as we amend the articles on the Convention on International Civil Aviation 1944 today, we still have to come back home and attend to aviation matters starting with Kenya Airways. I support these amendments and as we do this, let us look at what is happening with the national carrier. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}