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Parliament has initiated an inquiry into the operations of Skyward Express Airline owned by Muhumed Abdi Mohamed following a petition presented by Loima MP Protus Akuja, who raised concerns about the airline’s safety standards and their potential risk to passengers.
The petition, tabled before the National Assembly’s Public Petitions Committee, calls for a thorough investigation into the activities of the airline, which is based at Wilson Airport in Nairobi. In his petition, Mr. Akuja expressed the concerns of concerned citizens in the Republic of Kenya regarding recent incidents that have raised doubts about the airline’s commitment to maintaining minimum flight safety standards.
These incidents include situations where Skyward Express aircraft encountered challenges such as malfunctioning landing gear, unidentifiable sounds during mid-flight, and even reports of smoke emanating from the wings. Mr. Akuja contends that these incidents have created unease among passengers and underscore the need for a comprehensive examination of the airline’s safety protocols.
Moreover, he pointed out that Skyward Express, which provides scheduled flights to various destinations including Kitale, Kakamega, Mombasa, Lamu, Eldoret, Diani, Lodwar, and Malindi, has been criticized for imposing exorbitant ticket prices, particularly when compared to similar routes offered by other carriers.
Mr. Akuja emphasized that previous attempts to address these concerns with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) have not yielded satisfactory results. Therefore, he is calling upon the committee to ensure that the mandatory and regular maintenance of aircraft operated by Skyward Express is rigorously examined and certified by the KCAA, with the ultimate aim of enhancing the safety and affordability of air travel for all passengers.
