TRADERS ANGERED BY CARGO FLIGHTS DIVERSION

Nairobi

Transport Minister John Michuki yesterday came under criticism from
traders in Uasin Gishu District over his claims that corruption led to
the cancellation of cargo flights at the Eldoret International Airport.

Area mayor, Mr Jonah Maiyo, said the Government had enough security
machinery to contain corruption at the facility. He challenged the
minister to come out clean on the reason behind the diversion of cargo
flights from the facility to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
(JKIA), in Nairobi.

"The Government should have gone after individuals involved in corrupt
practices at the airport instead of working to cripple it by diverting
all cargo flights to JKIA," said Maiyo.

At the same time, traders who have been using the facility yesterday
threatened to move to Entebbe Airport, in Uganda, instead of JKIA.

"Our market has mainly been western Kenya region and parts of Uganda
and it is better to re-locate to Entebbe than being forced to use
JKIA," one of the traders told a meeting in Eldoret.

Michuki told Parliament on Tuesday that the Eldoret Airport was an
entry point for hard drugs and it was insecure since officials did not
follow clearing procedures due to corruption.

But the traders yesterday challenged the Government to establish tight
security systems in all airports and deal with corrupt officials
instead of taking measures that affected their operations.

A senior official at the airport yesterday said the Government had
lost over Sh54 million following the cancellation of the flights two
weeks ago.