KQ crew should choose to be on right side of history, call off strike
What you need to know:
The crew members must be counted as strong-spirited citizens of Kenya who were on the right side of history when it mattered most.
Let us celebrate this inaugural flight to the US without a cloud hanging over us.
On October 28, we must proudly march to New York and claim a slice of the Big Apple.
There comes a time when we must pull together, forget the petty differences that divide us and put the well-being of the country at the centre of everything we do. That time is now.
CNN business journalist Richard Quest has had nothing but good things to say about Kenya while on a visit to the country: It’s ripe for business. The New York Times recently ran an excellent article that focused on the things that make Kenya tick. Overall, Kenya’s brand is on a resurgence.
TURBULENCE
Sometimes though, I get the feeling that we are our own worst enemies. When everything seems to be going well for us, we scatter all to the four winds.
The latest example is the call by Kenya Airways crew to go on strike, just as the country was jubilating that a journey of 10 years — for a direct flight to the United States — has come to an end. The inaugural flight is scheduled for October 28.
The timing of the strike could not have been more diabolical. It has been timed to inflict the most damage to an airline that has recently gone through some severe turbulence, but is now cruising to recovery.
MOMENTOUS
I do not know the details of the union’s collective bargaining agreement with the national carrier, but this is such a momentous occasion for the country that a strike can only be seen in the light of economic sabotage. Strong words, indeed, but let’s look at what this flight means for the economy.
First, it is about putting Kenya on the global map. We are among a handful of African countries that have, after meeting very stringent conditions, been cleared by the US Federal Aviation Authority to fly direct to America, after achieving a category 1 rating. It shows we have come of age.
HORTICULTURAL
Secondly, the direct flight is expected to spur tourist arrivals from the US, which the Kenya government estimates at 24 per cent. This is a significant spurt, especially as we are trying to expand the tourism sector by exploring new markets.
Thirdly, it will open a new trade route for Kenya’s horticultural produce in this hitherto untapped market. There is insatiable appetite for Kenyan goods in the US.
Finally, this inaugural flight is about creating jobs in Kenya, both direct and indirect, in addition to earning the much-needed foreign exchange.
CHALLENGES
Undeniably, Kenya Airways has had enormous challenges over the past two years. But through strategic interventions, the airline has been stabilised and the future looks bright.
However, this could not have been the case if the government, lenders, shareholders and, most importantly, staff realised that if KQ went under, there would not be a winner. On the contrary, there would be many losers.
It is important, nay, critical, that the crew who are calling for a strike know that they are the principal stakeholders in the well-being of the airline. It is about their jobs; it is about national pride; it is about nursing our baby back to health.
INTRANSIGENCE
Yes, it is about regaining our national pride.
This is not the time to drop the ball. Intransigence by the crew will not pay; it can only erode the recent gains that have painstakingly been made. It is also quite apparent that the repercussions of such an action extend beyond the airline; they touch on the entire economy.
MANAGEMENT
KQ has done a great job establishing Nairobi as a regional aviation hub. JKIA is now firmly established as the airport of choice for connecting Africa to the world.
Our neighbours have not been sleeping though; they have been watching, waiting for the opportune moment to grab the crown from us. Ethiopia and Rwanda, especially, are top contenders with well-established airlines and airports that can easily become the new hubs.
STRONG-SPIRITED
We simply cannot afford to blink. The KQ crew, therefore, need to place the welfare of the country first by calling off the strike and sitting down with the management to thrash out any outstanding issues.
The crew members must be counted as strong-spirited citizens of Kenya who were on the right side of history when it mattered most. Let us celebrate this inaugural flight to the US without a cloud hanging over us.
On October 28, we must proudly march to New York and claim a slice of the Big Apple.
Mr Gitahi is the chairman, Brand Kenya. [email protected].
