Kenya Pilots Set for Strike

• Kenya Pilots Set for Strike

Major Kenyan pilots’ union on Tuesday called for an indefinite strike beginning on Oct. 18 to demand change at the national carrier.

The Union’s General Secretary, Capt. Paul Gichinga, said that the protest was on poor management at the troubled national carrier, Kenya Airways.

Gichinga, also the head of the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA), said “we have no confidence in the airline’s recovery.”

“KALPA members will from 5 a.m. (local time) on Oct. 18, down their tools until a comprehensive change of guard at Kenya Airways is effected.”

Last month Kenya Airways, which is 27 percent-owned by Air France KLM, said it was seeking foreign institutional investors to raise cash.

The company has said it needs about 70 billion shillings ($692 million). Kenya Airways has been cutting and modernising its fleet, selling land and cutting jobs to recover from losses caused by a slump in tourism.