KQ: Gire was suspended for breaching KAA security procedures

Suspended KQ employee Ali Gire and his lawyer Dunstan Omari. [Faith Karanja, Standard]

Kenya Airways has said it followed the law in suspending one of their employees who allegedly filmed the arrival of China Southern Airlines plane at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) with 239 passengers on board on February 26.

In a statement released to media outlets on March 1, the airline maintains that Gire Ali was suspended after it emerged that he had acted in contravention of safety rules and procedures at the airport.

“On February 26, 2020, KQ received a letter from KAA stating that there had been a breach of airside security procedures involving one of our employees. In accordance with standard HR procedure, the employee was suspended to allow a full investigation to take place to determine the facts of the matter,” KQ said on its statement released today.

It further stated: “As an operator at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), we are expected to adhere to Airport Security procedures and regulations set by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) as the Airport regulator and which are prescribed by law.”

However, KQ in its statement failed to quote the airport security rules and regulations which it argued that Ali had flouted.

In the rules and regulations of the KAA, none explicitly prohibits filming by a staff member who is on duty.

The airline stated that the Gire will continue enjoying his rights and receiving full salary as the investigation continues.

Yesterday, Ali told the press that he is moving to court to challenge his suspension, saying he has been receiving threats since his suspension.

"Some security officers at Kenya Airways threatened me on February 27, 2020 after I was suspended,” Ali said.

City lawyer Dunstan Omari acting for Gire said he will still file a petition to have the State compelled to grant Ali maximum security because his life is in danger.

Omari said the employee has since recorded a statement over death threats at Kahawa Wendani Police Station.

He also dismissed the suspension as null and void, arguing that no suspended employee should be on full salary.

"The law says that if an employee is suspended legally, then they should receive half their salary," said Omari.

Omari said he will move to the Employment and Labour Relations Court tomorrow to have that suspension reversed.

"My client, who is a security officer at the airport, is willing to go back to work once his termination is reviewed," he said.

He said Ali's mandate is to provide protection to an aircraft, passengers, airport, aircraft security and detection of any fraud and take action if there is an infringement of the security of an airline.

“As a trained officer, Gire was on duty where a Chinese airline landed and after being marshaled by airport marshalls for more than one hour, the passengers disembarked," Omari said.

He said the Kenyan security agents were not equipped with gadgets and necessary medical tools. The lawyer said when instructions came that the Chinese should disembark, Ali recorded whatever was happening and the video went viral.

Additional reporting Faith Karanja