Court summons KALPA officials over refusal to call off pilots strike

The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi has summoned 11 Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) for contempt of court after refusing to call off the pilots’ strike that entered its third day on Monday.

Lady Justice Anna N. Mwaure in an order issued on Monday directed the 11 to appear in court on Tuesday, November 8, for the ongoing strike that has left thousands of Kenya Airways (KQ) passengers stranded as the national carrier cancelled most of its flights.

“The following are summoned in court on 8th November 2022 to show cause why they should not be punished for contempt of Court for disobeying Court orders issued by the Court on 31st October 2022,” read the court order.

Lady Justice Mwaure summoned KALPA Chairperson Capt. Timothy Njoroge, his deputy Capt. David Magwa, Capt. Mureithi Nyagah, KALPA’s General Secretary & CEO, Capt. Dzochera Warraakah, the Asstistant General Secretary and Capt. Wilson Mathu, the Assistant Treasurer.

Executive Council Members Capt. Murithi Ireri, Capt. Mathew Karimi, First Officer Joseph Migwi, First officer Evelyne Nzongi, and First officer Daniel Geita, as well as the secretary, Christine Kariuki, were also summoned.

Earlier in the day, KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka had asked striking pilots to return to work or risk being replaced. He said the window for talks is closed and that the airline expects the pilots to return to work before any discussions are held.

"We want them to go back to work before we can talk to the pilots. It’s too late for talks. They either come to work or we replace them," Mr. Kilavuka told a press conference. 

Kilavuka said the striking pilots will be held individually and collectively responsible for the airline's losses and the repeated damage done to the airline.

He further stated that the airline will not hesitate to hire new pilots to avoid being held hostage by industrial action every time.

According to KQ, 25 pilots have returned to work so far, while 132 others have called in to say they are unable to fly.

The strike began at 06:00 a.m. on Saturday at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, defying a court order prohibiting industrial action and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

The strike has exacerbated the problems facing the troubled national carrier, which has been making losses for years despite the government pumping millions of dollars into it to keep it afloat.

The airline, which is owned in part by the government and Air France-KLM, is one of the largest in Africa, connecting numerous African countries to Europe and Asia.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen urged the pilots to return to work on Sunday, similarly warning them against defying a court order.