Sack Kenya Airways boss, say senators
Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Mbuvi Ngunze addresses the media during the release of the company's half year results at Intercontinental hotel, Nairobi, on November 12, 2015. The House, on December 3, 2015, unanimously passed a damning report that indicts Mr Ngunze and the board, chaired by Mr Evans Mwaniki, for failing to properly steer the company, leading to its near-downfall. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The House, on Thursday, unanimously passed a damning report that indicts Mr Ngunze and the board, chaired by Mr Evans Mwaniki, for failing to properly steer the company, leading to its near-downfall.
- It said the CEO did not meet the requirements outlined in the airline’s operations manual to occupy the position of the Chief Operating Officer, which he held before he was appointed the CEO.
Senators want the Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mbuvi Ngunze, removed and the airline’s board of directors disbanded to pave the way for a fresh team to revive the struggling company.
The House, on Thursday, unanimously passed a damning report that indicts Mr Ngunze and the board, chaired by Mr Evans Mwaniki, for failing to properly steer the company, leading to its near-downfall.
The lawmakers also want them prosecuted if found to have participated in mismanagement or any corrupt activities during their term in office.
The report, prepared by a Senate Select Committee chaired by Kisumu Senator Peter Anyang’ Nyon’go, cites a wide range of malpractices it says are the cause of the problems bedevilling the company that has plunged into losses in the last three consecutive years.
The committee did a three-month inquiry into the firm’s activities following massive losses amounting to more than Sh25 billion in the last financial year.
In the report, the committee said Mr Ngunze did not have the necessary qualifications when he was appointed to replace Mr Titus Naikuni.
It said the CEO did not meet the requirements outlined in the airline’s operations manual to occupy the position of the Chief Operating Officer, which he held before he was appointed the CEO.
“The current Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mbuvi Ngunze, was the Chief Operating Officer of Kenya Airways for three years. The committee observed that at the point of being recruited to the position of Chief Operating Officer, Mr Ngunze was not qualified for that position as outlined in the Kenya Airways operations manual,” said the committee.
The committee said that the board had changed the rules to accommodate Mr Ngunze, despite him not having the requisite work experience to hold the job.
According to the report, the CEO only had three years’ experience as the chief operating officer, as opposed to the required eight to 10 years.
The team recommended that the firm be managed by a new team with adequate skills and experience.
On Thursday, Prof Nyong’o said the government should be tough on the management because it is the principal shareholder.
