Kenya Airways Staff Arrested By Military In Kinshasa

• Two Kenya Airways (KQ) staff were arrested on Friday, April 19, by the military in Kinshasa over allegations of missing documentation on a valuable cargo
• Kenya Airways CEO Alan Kilavuka said the Kenyan embassy officials and a few KQ staff were allowed to visit the staffers in detention but only for a few minutes
• The airline insisted that the cargo in question was not on the air side for transportation, adding that it was still in the baggage section undergoing clearance

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia brings over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has confirmed the arrest and detention of two of its employees by the Detection Militaire des Activities Anti Patrie (DEMIAP), the military intelligence unit in Kinshasa.

The incident, which occurred on Friday, April 19, sparked concerns over the treatment of the airline’s staff and the adherence to due process.

Why has KQ staff been arrested?

The arrest was linked to an alleged discrepancy in custom documentation for valuable cargo scheduled for transport on a KQ flight.

However, KQ has clarified that the cargo in question was never accepted or uplifted due to incomplete documentation.

"During their arrest, their phones were seized, and access to them denied. On Wednesday, April 23, the Kenyan embassy officials and a few KQ staff were allowed to visit them but only for a few minutes," Kenya Airways CEO Alan Kilavuka said.

Despite a military court ruling on Thursday, April 25, which ordered the unconditional release of the detained staff, DEMIAP is yet to comply.

KQ outlined the facts surrounding the incident, emphasising that the cargo had not been handed over to them and was still undergoing clearance.

What KQ said about staff arrest

Efforts to communicate this to the military officers were unsuccessful, leading to the detention of the employees at the DEMIAP facility.

“Our ‘Ready for Carriage’ compliance checks are rigorous, ensuring that all cargo meets statutory requirements before acceptance.

We are perturbed by this action targeting innocent staff and consider it harassment targeting Kenya Airways' business.,” Kilavuka stated.

He further highlighted that the responsibility for documentation and clearance lies with the shipper or logistics partner, not the airline.

The situation has raised alarm over what KQ deems as harassment targeting its business operations.

The airline is actively cooperating with investigative agencies and working with government entities in both the DRC and Kenya to seek a resolution.

KQ resume Dubai flights

In another news, TUKO.co.ke reported that Kenya Airways flights to and from Dubai were disrupted following heavy rains and flooding in the Arab nation.

The flooding stopped operations at the Dubai International Airport on Tuesday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

KQ said it is in close communication with the Dubai authorities, resuming two flights starting Thursday, April 18, at 7:45 pm.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.