Court orders pilots, KQ to reach agreement by 2.30 PM

Lady Justice Anna Mwaure has ordered Kenya Airways (KQ) and Kenya Airlines Pilot Association (KALPA) to hold talks and come up with a way forward on their stalemate.

The judge ordered the parties to present consent in written form to the court by Tuesday, 2:30 PM as she turned down KALPA’S request to be granted seven days to solve the issue.

Justice Anna Mwaure raised concern about the losses that the airline will make if the parties are granted the 7-day mediation period telling the pilots they are safe not in jail.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court summoned 11 KALPA officials after refusing to call off the pilots’ strike that entered its fourth day on Tuesday.

“The following are summoned in court on 8th November 2022 to show cause why they should not be punished for contempt of Court for disobeying Court orders issued by the Court on 31st October 2022,” read the court order.

The pilots and KQ management have been trading accusations, where KALPA is accusing the airline of failing to honour their CBA.

On the other hand, KQ has termed the pilots’ strike illegal, accusing them of holding passengers and the Kenyan economy at ransom through the strike.