This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
Kenya Airways has sparked controversy with its plan to recruit 20 expatriate pilots to crew the Boeing 737, a move that has been met with opposition from the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA).
According to KALPA, the airline's management is deliberately sidelining Kenyan pilots in the hiring process in favor of expatriates who are high maintenance for the struggling carrier.
The pilots claim that this is in breach of a deal they signed with Kenya Airways that provides for the hiring of expatriates only if there is a shortage of qualified local pilots, which is now not the case.
As of November 12, 2019, a section of pilots had filed a trade dispute with the Labor Ministry, seeking arbitration over the move by Kenya Airways to employ foreign pilots on the contract.
Kenya Airways has maintained that hiring pilots on a two-year contract would enable it to increase its pilot talent pool through recruitment of junior pilots as well as enhance the capacity of the existing personnel to operate its Boeing 737 fleet.
However, KALPA General Secretary has expressed concerns that the airline's attempt to hire foreigners on the Boeing 737 in preference to Kenyan colleagues is unfair.
“We have numerous suitable Kenyan Captains on the Embraer fleet ready for promotion to the senior Boeing 737 fleet. Kenya Airways attempt to hire foreigners on the Boeing 737 in preference to our Kenyan colleagues,” he said.
Currently, Kenya Airways operates a flight schedule that requires 600 pilots against a capacity of 430, creating a deficit that has resulted in flight delays or cancellations.
