Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. blasts Kenya Airways after suspension of Chinese plane ‘whistleblower’

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. has criticized Kenya Airways after it emerged that the national carrier has suspended an employee who filmed the arrival of a Chinese plane.

According to the advocate, under Article 232 of the Constitution, the employee should have been promoted and his boss fired.

“This order will be reversed by any court. Public interest is more important than management interests,” he said on Twitter.

Kenya Airways suspended Mr. Gire Ali accusing him of exposing poor handling and management of passengers arriving from China on Wednesday.

In the suspension letter seen by Citizen Digital, Mr. Ali is castigated for allegedly video recording a China Southern Airlines plane at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

KQ said the video was widely circulated on social media and his alleged involvement in the matter led to his suspension on February 27, 2020.

The letter signed by Chief Human Resources Officer Evelyne Munyoki further states that the recording was contrary to provision 16.2 of the company’s HR policy manual.

Mr. Ali has been ordered to avail himself to the investigating team, his manager and any other person in authority.

The letter elicited uproar on social media with another lawyer Ekuru Aukot saying:

“As a platinum member with the SkyTeam that includes Kenya Airways, I have cancelled my ticket to Kigali because of KQ‘s conspiracy to endanger lives of 47 million Kenyans. Gire Ali is a patriot who exposed #coronavirusInkenya. He should be rewarded. Not suspended.”

Aukot added: “Someone get me Gire Ali’s contacts. Once I get to Nairobi, happy to look for him. He needs to be defended by all Kenyans for the dangers of #coronavirusInkenya are dire! They threaten 48 million Kenyans currently relying on a weak health system.”

Former Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale also castigated the national carrier saying:” Suspend Mr Gire Ali? He is a mere whistle blower. Now our hero. Kenya Airways, yours is wisdom of fools.”

One Sewe Saldana was however of a different opinion and said: “Mr. Gire Ali, pole sana. But let me tell you a bitter truth: don’t try be a hero (oteroo) in Kenya. You will lose, and nobody will come to your aid. What you did was excellent, but we Kenyans will not be there for when you languish in unemployment. Kenya is not worth dying for.”