Kenya Airways plane taking off from the JKIA, Nairobi, in September 2019.  [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

According to recent media reports, “the government says it will not yield to pressure to liberalise Kenyan skies and to give foreign carriers easy access to different airports within the country.”

This decision has elicited mixed reactions. There are those who approve of this; who appreciate that Kenya’s airspace is a valuable resource that must be used for the benefit of citizens.

Then there are others who have received this decision with consternation, who argue that open skies would ramp up the number of visitors to the country. They aver that competition is good and that protectionism is needless.

No doubt, the liberalisation of airspace and the facilitation of competition is good. But only when there is a level playing field. The question that arises then is whether Kenyan carriers operate on a level playing field. The answer is that they do not. The odds are stacked against local airlines and tilt heavily in favour of foreign carriers in the following ways.

First, local carriers are subscale. They have fewer planes relative to many foreign carriers. This makes the unit cost of operating them higher than bigger airlines. They do not benefit from the same economies of scale. The Covid-19 pandemic taught the world that having a national carrier is a national security matter. Local airlines must therefore be allowed to grow organically to the point where they can match their international counterparts.

Second, the cost of operating an airline in Africa is higher than in Europe, America or the Middle East by more than 40 per cent on account of higher fuel costs and intra-Africa taxes. For instance, the passenger charge for a traveller within Europe is a mere 6 US dollars whereas it is 110 US dollars within Africa.

The Single African Air Travel Market is an initiative that seeks to remove all restrictions within the African continent for African carriers to thrive. Kenya is a signatory to this initiative. Once other countries on the continent come on board, African carriers will then compete effectively against their foreign counterparts.

Third, a lot of foreign competitors are backed by their governments. This is both at the policy level and through subsidies. For example, the US has a “fly American” policy that precludes flying on a foreign carrier using funds from taxpayers. Policies are also used to protect airlines from competition. Delta, an American carrier, does not fly to Dubai because it cannot compete with Emirates on a policy and subsidy level.

Because aviation is a very expensive business with thin margins, most countries with successful airlines tend to subsidise them heavily. In the last four years, Emirates has received more than USD 4 billion from the UAE government in subsidies. Singapore Airlines received USD 19 billion for post-pandemic recovery whereas American carriers got USD 56 billion from the US government towards the same. Carriers in Kenya have to make do with commercial arrangements and some limited support from the government.

These are the questions proponents of open skies should ask: Would Kenya receive more tourists because of open skies or because of tourist attractions? Would not tourist numbers be ramped up by marketing Kenya as more than just a beach and safari destination? Mr Khafafa is a public policy analyst, The Standard

 The national government has been asked to find a lasting solution to the ongoing doctors strike in the country.

Siaya Governor James Orengo indicated that the strike has been recurring and it is now time that the government fully addresses it.

Orengo pointed over the years, he has appeared in court to defend doctors’ union officials but the problem has refused to go away.

“The national government has failed to resolve the long standing dispute involving the doctors’ union,” he said.

He says that four years ago he appeared for former Kenya Medical, Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials who were arrested while agitating for similar demands now.

Speaking in Nyakach Sub County on Sunday during a funds drive at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Orengo says the government has failed its citizens in matters of health.

“This government was formed on the basis of mama mbogas, who cannot now access medical health services due to the ongoing strike,” he said.

Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili, who hosted Orengo says despite health being devolved, the ongoing strike is a creation of the national government.

“County governments has nothing to do with the ongoing strike, let the national government come out to put this strike to a stop,” he said.

The president’s call slams any hope that demands by the doctors in regard to salary rise will not be effected. By Ojwang Joe, Capital News

By DPPS

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has commended Kenya on its contribution to the reconstruction of Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide.

President Kagame pointed out that Kenya hosted many fleeing Rwandese during that tragic period.

Nairobi was among countries, President Kagame told Heads of State and Governments, Envoys and Heads of Delegation in Kigali Sunday,  that helped in the rebirth of the peaceful modern-day Rwanda.

He spoke at BK Arena in Kigali during the 30th National commemoration of the Genocide that claimed one million lives.

Kenya, among other countries, “hosted large members and numbers of Rwandan refugees and gave them a home,” the Rwandan President noted.

Kenya was represented at the commemoration by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who stood in for President William Ruto.

“Today we also feel a particular gratitude to all the friends and representatives here with us from around the world. We are deeply honoured by your presence alongside us on this very heavy day.

The contributions you have made to Rwanda’s rebirth are enormous and have helped us to stand where we are now. I want to recognise the few while also asking for forgiveness for not being able to mention all who deserve it,” he said.

Deputy President Gachagua joined thousands of Rwandans led by their President, 19 Heads of State and Government, Former Heads of State, world leaders and heads of international delegations at the event dubbed Kwibuka30 National Remembrance Ceremony.

The theme of the commemoration is “Remember, unite, renew.” 

Mr Gachagua laid a wreath at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in honour of the 1994 Genocide victims.

The memorial centre is one of the final resting place of victims of the Genocide that claimed more than one million lives of men, women and children in a period of three months.

Today, Sunday, marked the start of the 100-day commemoration period.

The Deputy President led a delegation that included the Deputy Majority Leader in the National Assembly Owen Baya (MP Kilifi North) and MPs Edward Muriu (Gatanga), John Kaguchia (Mukurwe-ini), Veronicah Maina (Nominated Senator), Patrick Munene (Chuka Igamba-Ng’ombe), Julius Rutto (Kesses), Parashina Samuel (Kajiado South), Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi), Agnes Pareiyo (Narok North) and former Starehe MP Charles Njagua together with university student leaders Justise Jabali (president of Murang’a University of Technology) and Francis Ngugi Mwaura (student leader at Pwani University).

Some of the world leaders at the event included former US President Bill Clinton, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, South Sudan’s President Salva Kirr as well as Tanzania’s Samia Sulubu and Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, among others.