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{
"id": 960131,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/960131/?format=api",
"text_counter": 296,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Pokot South, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. David Pkosing",
"speaker": {
"id": 2662,
"legal_name": "Losiakou David Pkosing",
"slug": "losiakou-david-pkosing"
},
"content": "Committee observed that the bilateral air service Agreement between Kenya and Finland was negotiated and initiated during the ICAN on 5th December 2017 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was signed on 14th December 2018. That took some time because of negotiations. Further, my Committee is saying that the Agreement provides for multiple designations of airlines, 14 frequencies per week, no restriction on aircraft capacity and an open and liberal goods schedule. Exercise of the 5th Freedom Traffic Rights is subject to approval by the respective aeronautical authorities. An aeronautical authority is like the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), which is the regulator in terms of in and out flights of the country. This bilateral agreement is recognising the authority of KCAA. Currently, no Kenyan carrier operates scheduled air services to and from the Republic of Finland and similarly, no airline from Finland operates in our country. Perhaps after ratification and approval by this House, we can have those flights coming to our country. Agreement No.4 is between Kenya and the Hellenic Republic. The Hellenic Republic, many people might not understand, in simple terms, is Greece. This is very important in terms of travel between Kenya and Greece in terms of tourism. My Committee is requesting the House to agree with us and approve the bilateral agreement. The Kenya and Hellenic Republic bilateral air service agreement was negotiated in 1978, reviewed and initialled on 5th December 2016 in Nassau, Bahamas, and finally signed on 4th December 2018. The Agreement provides for multiple designation of airlines, seven frequencies for passenger services, no restrictions on aircraft capacity, no restrictions on all cargo operations and an open and liberal route schedule. This is very important. Also, exercise of the 5th Freedom Traffic Rights shall be subject to approval by the respective aeronautical authorities. This means our KCAA and an equivalent of KCAA in Greece. Further, my Committee notes that currently, no carrier from either party operates scheduled air services on the route between the two states. Therefore, asking for this is critical. Finally, the fifth country, that we have an air service agreement that we are presenting to the House for approval is the Seychelles. The Kenya and Seychelles Bilateral Air Services Agreement was negotiated and initialled on 13th December, 2013 in Durban, South Africa. It was signed on 14th December 2018. That took a bit of time in terms of negotiations. Seychelles is a very critical country in terms of tourism for ourselves because it is near. Further, the Agreement provides for unlimited frequencies and capacity, multiple designation and a liberal route schedule. Exercising the 5th Freedom Traffic Rights is on reciprocal basis. If they give us, we give them. The Kenya Airways is operating daily to Seychelles at the moment from that Agreement. Therefore, signing of this is critical. If you look at the timing, there is no better time than now. The Committee, with the help of the House, approved a report to restructure the Kenya Airways and nationalise it. Of course, we had two options, and it is good that I am saying this. I am hoping that two parties are listening and watching us, namely, the management of Kenya Airways and the pilots. Although I have not received any official message, there is some talk which is not good between the pilots and the management. We hope that they will not undermine the direction given by this House to restructure the Kenya Airways. We are hoping that not the pilots or anybody will hold this country or our airliner to ransom. My Committee was faced with two options in trying to restructure it. You know what happened in the House when that Privately Initiated Investment proposal (PIIP) was introduced on the Floor of the House. It was emotive. You gave guidance that the Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing should relook at that and bring a report to the House. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}