Dr. ABDILLAHI Alawy
We are extending our deepest condolences to all the families and friends who are directly affected by the recent tragic crash of the Kenya Airways jetliner in Cameroon. It is possible that mistakes were made, rules not followed, or just fate visiting on us through the mighty hand of God. It is very possible that terrorism was not the cause for this crash and thorough God we all pray for the souls of our departed.
Kenya Airways is one of the best managed companies in Kenya. Truly, it is the icon of African pride evidenced through its services and employees’ dedication. And it is this dimension which makes it believable that KQ 507 crash was totally an accident beyond the control of any human. It’s a hard thought in these times, but let us remember that the Abidjan-Nairobi is not a new route for Kenya Airways and many more of these daily flights have consistently made it through reliably and safely.
About six years ago, I took such a Kenya Airways flight out of Abidjan that had a stopover in Douala, Cameroon. I had visited six countries in West Africa that were implementing my foundation’s programs in Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. After a rigorous month, I returned home via the same KQ flight that was fully manned by a Kenyan crew. I have never taken a friendlier flight since.
You will have been surprised that although a Kenyan owned jet and going to Nairobi, there were hardly any Kenyans flying as passengers on that flight. This particular night-flight is popular with many nationalities across the continent and the world. But the all-Kenyan crew that night was especially friendly and represented their airline very proudly. KQ and its dedicated staff are not called the pride of Africa in vain.
The cabin crew was composed of a mixed group of male, female, Muslims, Christians and people from all over Kenya as far as Gazi in the south coast to Baringo in the Rift Valley. Indeed we had a very smooth ride from Abidjan to Nairobi.
And many more KQ flights have been the same. Meaning they have been safe, friendly, memorable, and profoundly efficient professionally. Even the pilots charmed their way into the cabin to help us kill the time on that very humid-African night flying over the vast continent on the last day of October 2001.
However, KQ Flight 507 was never meant to be that way for reasons that are only known to God. In January of 2000, KQ Flight 431 also crashed with more fatalities than last week’s. In due time, experts will be called upon to explain this accident. But we take consolation in the fact that God has called up His children. A call we will all receive eventually.
There are several discussions in our press and some from our leaders that in light of what has just happened, KQ should quit this route.They want KQ to abandon the West Africa market and look elsewhere. Strong suspicions are being advanced to the effect that the Cameroon airport facilities are below standard and this could be the cause of the accident.
Future evidence may actually suggest the obvious. That most of the West African airports that Kenya Airways utilizes have significant safety deficiencies. That Flight 507 went down less than six kilometres from the edge of the runway. Yet it took 2 days for the rescue teams to locate the wreckage thus missing a chance to save lives of those who did not die on impact. Evidently, some basic aviation equipment ought to have traced this plane in seconds not days. In the coming days, we will be shocked over and over again by what our West Africa hosts define as international airport safety and security standards.
Specifically, a lot more evidence against the Cameroonian aviation authority will come out in the next few days. But the bottom line is that 114 people have perished and many families are grieving. Even from here, I look at the pictures of Elizabeth Achieng Ong`ondo, one of the departed KQ hostess, and feel the devastating pain that has befallen her family. I read Captain Leticia Bwemelo’s story, another dead KQ 507 passenger from Tanzania, and how her husband, Captain John A. Jumla, is agonizing over his beloved wife’s death--and shed tears of pain. There are hundreds of such sad stories all over the region. May God give all the bereaved families patience and fortitude.
Definitely it is a very sad time for all the families and the staff of Kenya Airways. Kudos to Titus Naikuni, Kenya Airways CEO, and Kenya’s Minister of Transport, Chirau Mwakwere, for their humility and speedy co-ordination of the Kenyan response. These two leaders also assured us that Kenya Airways will not disrupt its services to the region as a result of KQ 507 crash.
Without question, it will be more tragic if we take this accident as a reason to cancel KQ services to West Africa. West and East African travellers require this link. Kenya Airways is the hope of many travellers to and from these regions because there are hardly any reliable airlines operating in most of the West African major cities.
Air Afrique, which connected many of the West African countries a few years ago went bankrupt. Many travellers are usually stranded for days at these airports. We know of stories where some Kenyan cabinet ministers have taken commuter buses to cross from one country to another within that region because of chronic flights delays. In many West Africa capital cities if you are stranded at an airport you will have to wait for days not hours.
Still, Kenya Airways is a pioneering model of air travel in this region. KQ acts as a link and a lifeline for many individuals who catalyse development for both regions. If you only look at the list of the ill-fated passengers you will notice the diverse combination of traders, military/government officials, journalists, philanthropists, physicians, and tourists. If KQ is persuaded to abandon these potential investors, Kenya will be doing this at the expense of not only West Africa but the whole continent.
In the case of African economy, Kenya is a leader in many respects. Call it the Tiger of the East African economy or the peace-broker in the Horn of Africa. These are some roles for which we must sacrifice. And it is not a favour we are doing our neighbours but it is our calling and concrete sacrifice to the general good of the continent. Kenya Airways should not discontinue its strong presence in the West African market.
By the eloquent words of our transport minister, Mwakwere, who was among the very first of the Kenyan officials to walk in the Cameroonian swamp of death, we should pray, mourn, investigate, but also move on! We and Mwakwere strongly believe that Kenya Airways should continue its services in West Africa and beyond. As these flights have become the indispensable linkages and bridges of hope. Accidents do happen all the time; and the losses have been devastating for Kenya Airways and its clientele. But God will give Kenya Airways the strength and persistence in opening doors for the rest of Africa.
SUNDAY TIMES
aalawy@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment