Nairobi MCAs Cause Drama at JKIA after Colleague Blocked from Boarding Flight
Fifteen Members of Nairobi County Assembly (MCAs) on Monday night caused drama at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after one of their own was blocked from boarding a flight to Mombasa.
The MCAs were later detained at the facility following a quarrel with attendants of a local airline.The politicians were traveling to Mombasa, where they were scheduled to attend a workshop on the County Water Sanitation Bill at Pride Inn Hotel.
Trouble started after MCAs confronted the crew of Fly540 for declining to allow Ziwani MCA Millicent Mugadi board the flight for arriving late.
The MCAs alleged that airline’s crew were ‘verbally abusive’ and ‘arrogant’ when they attempted to have Ms Mugadi allowed to travel with them.
The flight had been scheduled to depart at 7pm, but was delayed after it developed mechanical problems that needed to be fixed. By that time all travelers had been cleared to board, except Ms Mugadi, who was yet to arrive at the airport.
When the problem got rectified and the plane was ready for take off, Ms Mugadi arrived and insisted on boarding the plane.
Her colleagues on-board also tried to convince the crew to let her in, but the pilot insisted late boarding was against the company’s policy. The pilot’s stance infuriated the MCAs, forcing them to alight and try to have Mugadi board the flight.
The pilot then flew to Mombasa, leaving the MCAs behind. The MCAs were detained for a few hours at JKIA, but were later released to board a another flight to Mombasa.
Explaining why she arrived late Ms Mugadi said: “I have metal plates in my leg and therefore sometimes it is hard for me to prepare. I knew I might be late so informed my fellow leaders. So when I arrived late and went to the customer care desk to inquire about the flight, while waiting for a response, the other MCAs came to check on me since they knew I was unwell."
She had been involved in a road crash along Nairobi-Nakuru highway sometime last year.