Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has criticized Kenya Airways' proposed acquisition of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), calling the plan "fraudulent" and warning of potential job losses for Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) employees. The legislator emphasized the financial contrast between the two entities, noting Kenya Airways reported losses of 4 billion shillings in 2018 and 5.6 billion shillings in 2017, while JKIA was recognized as Africa's Airport of the Year in 2018.
Owino, speaking at JKIA on March 6, argued that a company with sustained losses cannot manage a profitable airport. "A company that makes losses cannot take over one that is profitable," he stated, citing Kenya Airways' 100 billion shillings debt burden. He condemned the arrest of Kenya Airport Workers Union Secretary General Moss Ndiema as "illegal and unconstitutional," vowing to support the ongoing KAA strike.
The MP pledged to engage transport and treasury officials to "fix what isn't broken," framing the takeover as contradictory to the government's job creation goals. He emphasized JKIA's significance in his constituency, stating, "I will not allow a single KAA employee to be sacked due to this deal." Owino also criticized the proposed transfer as "a selfish and greedy ambition" that threatens national interests.
