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{
    "id": 1341550,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1341550/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 153,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nairobi City, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Esther Passaris",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to contribute to the Consideration of the Protocols Relating to the Amendments of Articles 50(a) and 56 of the Convention of International Civil Aviation 1944, also known as the Chicago Convention. Civil aviation is a global concern, and its safety is equally a global concern. We cannot be in isolation. I am thrilled that they are considering enhancing the membership of the Council from 36 to 40. I hope the African Continent will have adequate seats to voice their opinion on several issues relating to the Continent. We are very proud as a Continent. We have Kenya Airways as the Pride of Africa, Ethiopian Airways and Rwanda Air. Ethiopian Airways has set a high standard to the point it is becoming a point destination of connectivity, just like Dubai and Hong Kong. We need to look at how, as a country, we can benefit from this protocol and improve our participation in civil aviation. When you get into an aeroplane, it is a global representation of citizens worldwide. So, safety is mandatory, but also the issue of pricing. When you go to Europe and America, budget airlines provide affordable transportation. But when you look at Kenya Airways, it is pricey compared to the global airlines and how they price their travels. We need to figure out how, as a country, we can improve our civil aviation in terms of price and safety. When a country belongs to protocols and conventions and is a signatory, we can also raise our standards. If we have a country where corruption is rife, and we are not focussing on improving our standards, then when we sign up for such a convention, it is a check and balance for us as a country to make sure we up our standards and improve in terms of our safety and training. Kenya Airways is one of the best airlines that offers one of the best landings. You will always have a smooth landing on the runways. Our pilots are one of the best trained, and I still believe they are the best. We have also liberalised and included gender. We have female pilots, whom we are very proud of. So, the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure has been wise to bring this to us to consider. Being part of this protocol will mean that our civil aviation in terms of safety, pricing and standards will go higher. This is also a challenge for the management of Kenya Airways, which was our Pride of Africa, to look at where they went wrong and how they can improve so that we can get back to our position as the Pride of Africa. That is because today, when you look at the Airlines by comparison, I think the Ethiopian Airways has really raised their standards, and we are proud of that. We saw South African Airlines go down, but we should think of these protocols as Kenya and the Continent of Africa. This is because, as a Continent, we have got to figure out how we will become independent from the controls of the West. We also have to ensure that these protocols favour the Continent of Africa and do not make us dependent and lose our ground in terms of being monopolised by the western airlines. Overall, I support the Motion and congratulate the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure for bringing this to the Floor of the House. 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."
}