We have lost confidence in KQ management, KALPA says

The Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) has renewed calls for the dismissal of Kenya Airways (KQ) Chief Executive Officer Mbuvi Ngunze.

The move comes after the airline reported a historic loss of Sh26.2 billion for the year ended March 2016 with pilots union saying it had lost confidence with the top boss.

Speaking at a briefing on Wednesday, KALPA Secretary General Captain Paul Gichinga said that there has to be a change of guard since the same people who led the carrier into decline cannot be the ones taking charge of its recovery process.

“At this particular moment the best way forward is if we had change in top management if Mbuvi Ngunze would leave the company if the chairman of the board would recede his position and other board members so as to give an injection of new blood and people who can help steer this company into better fortunes” Captain Gichinga said.

This is the second time KALPA has called for Mr Ngunze’s resignation. In April the pilots’ union staged a day long protest that grounded the airlines operations and also saw senior managers exit the airline.

Casualties of the purge on senior managers include former Finance Director Alex Mbugua, Human Resource Director Alban Mwendwa and director of flight operations Paul Mwangi.

KALPA has been pushing for sweeping changes at the top.

Captain Gichinga said that KQ management had failed in its administrative docket by giving some of its top management positions to its partner Air France KLM without following the right recruitment process.

“It defies logic why Kenya Airways would comfortably cede its strategic routes and managerial dockets to KLM. The Chief Operating Officer and the Head of Network Planning are both KLM employees. It doesn’t stop there- the two, plus five other directors, have been appointed without following a competitive recruitment process, placing our national carrier at an obvious disadvantage” he added.

Kenya Airways is 26.7 percent owned by Air France KLM, which pilots say is more of a competitor than a partner since its presence in Africa has extensively increased whereas KQ’s presence in Europe has declined.

KALPA also wants Kenya Airways to stop its staff rationalization program which targets 600 employees, saying it is unfair.