MPs demand action against Fly540 over alleged discrimination of persons with disabilities

Nominated Senator Godliver Omondi and MP Isaac Mwaura addressing the press Thursday in Nairobi. They called for disciplinary action against the management of Fly540 airline.  [PHOTO: bonface okendo/STANDARD]

By MOSES NJAGIH

Kenya: MPs representing people living with disabilities have called on the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to take action against Fly540 airline for alleged discrimination of persons with disabilities.

The call came in the wake of alleged mistreatment of Worldwide Gospel Church Bishop Joseph Kosgey.

It also emerged that Senator Godliver Omondi, representing people with disabilities, has been a victim of discrimination by the same airline.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Committee on Equal Opportunities Chairman Johnson Sakaja has disclosed that the committee had summoned the management of the airline to appear before it to answer to accusations of abusing the rights of people with special needs.

“We have received the complaints in regard to the unfortunate incident and we have called them (Fly540) to appear before us,” Mr Sakaja said.

Ms Omondi disclosed that Bishop Kosgei’s incident was not the first act of its kind by the airline company. 

“In 2011, while travelling from Turkana to Nairobi, I was also a victim of the same discrimination by the same airline. They even had the audacity to inform me that they did not know that the air ticket was being procured for a person with disability, otherwise they would have declined  to take my money,” claimed the Senator.

She added: “We are challenging them to make it public that it is their policy not to deal with people with disabilities. We also ask them to close down their business as discriminating against people with disabilities is a violation of the Constitution. The authorities should not allow anyone to operate in violation of the law.”

Kenya Disability Parliamentary Association (KEDIPA) Chairman Isaac Mwaura said they would not allow the airline and other public service operators to discriminate against the people with special needs.

“It has now become an international practice that airlines must reasonably accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities. It should be noted that accessibility is a right as per Article Eight of the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities of which Kenya has ratified,” said Mr Mwaura.

“We are saddened that milestones made under our Constitution are being watered down by such retrogressive practices as displayed by Fly540, We demand an immediate apology from the airline,” he added.