KQ diverts Kisumu flight with Raila on board

ISAAC ONGIRI....so what? mean it would have been ideal to risk landing  whilst the conditions were not condusive for the reason that RAO was on board? Kwani who is he or he's got guaranteed a life?

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

By ISAAC ONGIRI

 

 In Summary

• The Nation established that the newly refurbished airport had the main runway flooded, making it difficult for take offs and landings.
• Kenya Airways later tweeted: “The plane is back at JKIA safely. The flight had to be diverted back to Nairobi due to bad weather in Kisumu,”

A late evening Kenya Airways flight to Kisumu with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on board was Thursday diverted back to Nairobi due to a forecast of landing problems attributed to bad weather.

Mr Odinga was travelling to Nyanza where he was expected to be the chief guest at Karachuonyo MP James Rege’s homecoming in Kendu Bay, Friday.

The flight was midway on the journey to Kisumu city when the crew announced the planned diversion back to the city.

The Nation established that the newly refurbished airport had the main runway flooded, making it difficult for take offs and landings.

Thursday evening, Mr Odinga’s spokesman Dennis Onyango confirmed that Mr Odinga was among the passengers affected by the 5 o’clock flight cancellation.
“We were told the flight was being diverted due to bad weather,” Mr Onyango said.

Mr Onyango confirmed that the diversion was successful and that Mr Odinga and other passengers had safely landed back in Nairobi.

Kenya Airways later tweeted: “The plane is back at JKIA safely. The flight had to be diverted back to Nairobi due to bad weather in Kisumu,”

By the time of filing this report, Mr Odinga and the other passengers were still waiting for the rescheduling of their flight.

“We are planning to cancel the flight all together so that we can have it rescheduled,” said an aide to Mr Odinga Thursday evening.

Mr Rege who is expected to host the Cord leader however said he had opted to travel by road due to a daylong busy diary that could not have accommodated his flight plans.

“I am expecting to host Mr Odinga and several MPs at home tomorrow. And am on my way by road,” Mr Rege said.
Kenya Airways spokesperson Ms Alice Odera said the airline would issue a statement regarding the flight later.