Cabinet Secretary nominee for Roads, Transport and Public Works Kipchumba Murkomen has proposed the splitting of national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) to return it to profitability.
Speaking when he faced the National Assembly Committee on appointments on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, Murkomen blamed Kenya Airways' loss-making streak on past mistakes.
"We should move to answer why are we in this situation. Why is Kenya Airways finding itself in the situation that it is? It's because of the mismanagement of the past, the project Mawingu for this Parliament is aware because we probed that issue - Senate and the National Assembly. We know what happens in Kenya Airways," Murkomen said.
Also Read:
The Roads and Transport CS nominee further revealed that President William Ruto is already acquainted with the proposed restructuring meant to bring Kenya Airways back to profitability.
"There are processes underway and the President is already seized of that issue as far as I am aware to make sure that we talk about restructuring Kenya Airways in whatever ways to ensure that it's profitable," he said.
Splitting Kenya Airways
Murkomen further suggested that Kenya Airways' cargo and passenger transport should be split into two different entities that operate separately from each other.
The Roads and Transport CS noted that Nairobi was a leading cargo destination in the region and that Kenya Airways cargo could be profitable.
"For example, Mr Speaker Nairobi is the leading cargo destination in the region yet Kenya Airways has only 10 per cent of the share. We should be able to separate Kenya Airways transport in terms of carrying passengers and separate the cargo one because that one looks like it would be more profitable and then it should be able to take up most of these market share of transport in the area," He said.
Work from different towns
Murkomen further told the parliamentary vetting committee that if approved as Roads and Transport CS he would be operating from different towns in the country to ensure he solves problems under his docket.
"As a firm believer of devolution, Mr Speaker I will once a month and more often I will decide that the Ministry today is working from Garissa. We sit there and sort out problems. The next week I can go and work from Kisumu. I work from there I sort out all the issues whether it is the Kisumu Airport, whether it is the Kisumu Port," he said.
