Accord Raila VIP treatment, say lawmakers

Photo | FILE
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at a past function. A parliamentary committee wants former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and other senior citizens accorded VIP treatment at Kenya’s airports.

A parliamentary committee wants former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and other senior citizens accorded VIP treatment at Kenya’s airports.

The Transport, Public Works and Housing Committee — which is led by Mr Maina Kamanda — said it is wrong for Kenya’s senior citizens, including Mr Odinga, former president Daniel arap Moi, former vice-presidents Moody Awori and Kalonzo Musyoka, to be mistreated by being denied access to the VIP lounge.

Expansion programme

“We should be like other countries which accord their senior citizens VIP treatment. We want everybody to feel comfortable, not the former PM alone,” Mr Kamanda said.

He spoke at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when the committee assessed progress in the JKIA expansion programme.

The team was taken around by Kenya Airports Authority managing director Stephen Gichuki, head of engineering Philemon Chamwada, general manager Eric Kiraithe and engineers Francis Ngigi and Betty Kamande.

Mr Kamanda said ex-MPs should also be given special treatment at the airports.