This archive report was first published on 21 November 2019.
On November 12, 2019, Sky News published a 2,731-word investigative piece titled 'Plane stowaway: Who was Kenyan man who fell from the sky?'
The report identified the man who fell from the plane as Paul Manyasi, a 29-year-old cleaner at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
However, the family of the alleged stowaway, who lives in Makhabuye village, Malava Sub-County, Kakamega, denied the report, stating that their son was called Cedric Shivonje.
Isaac Beti, the father of the alleged stowaway, said he was quoted out of context in the original report and that he had not spoken to the family since 2017 due to a disagreement over school fees.
He also revealed that the family believed their son was in remand over a defilement case.
Kenya Airports Authority and Colnet, the cleaning company Manyasi was reported to have worked for, also disputed the report.
On November 13, 2019, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss George Kinoti confirmed that Cedric Shivonje was at Industrial Area Remand Prison in Nairobi.
Kenya Prisons Service spokesman Dixon Mwakazi also confirmed that Shivonje was at the Nairobi Medium Prison after failing to raise Sh200,000 bail.
Shivonje was allegedly arrested in a defilement case as a teacher at a primary school in Kawangware, Nairobi.
A local daily reports that MJM Law has threatened to sue Sky News on instructions from Shivonje for defamation.
The stowaway's body is still being held at a London mortuary, and London Metropolitan Police says his death is not being treated as suspicious, with an inquest to be held after investigations are closed.
