Govt speaks on KQ crash

Parliamentary Reports:

Wednesday, May 22, 2007

The Government has denied that investigation on the recent Kenya Airways plane crash in Douala were being frustrated by bad blood between Nairobi and Younde (Cameroon)
Transport minister, Chirau Mwakwere, also denied he had been mistreated when he visited Douala, following the KQ Flight 507 crash on May 5.

The Douala-Nairobi bound plane crashed 33 seconds after taking off into a storm. The crash claimed 114 lives, nine of them Kenya crew.
Some MPs had suggested that due to poor communication between Nairobi and West African countries, Kenya Airways should consider cancelling all flights in the region.
Nyakach MP, Peter Odoyo who floated the question wanted to know the reasons behind the fatal crash.

Mwakwere said investigations were going on well according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) conventions.
The minister said under ICAO protocols, the country in which the accident occurs, institutes an inquiry into the accident.

He told the House Cameroonian authorities commissioned such an inquiry on May 18.
On her part, as the State of registry and operator of the ill-fated plane, Kenya has accredited the Director of Accident Investigations (from the ministry) to the inquiry.
Mwakwere said the final report of the inquiry would enable stakeholders, including the public and kin of the deceased to know the causes and circumstances of the crash.
He promised that the final report would, unlike the report of the 2000 Abidjan plane crash involving another KQ plane, Flight 431, which claimed 169 lives, would be made public.
Mwakere said the Government did not receive the final report of Flight 431 from the Government of Cote D’Ivore, which The Saturday Standard recently published.
He, however, admitted receiving the French version of Flight 431crash report.

Odoyo admitted that reports on air accidents takes time, but added it was unfortunate that many Kenyans had died on the West African routes,
Saboti MP, Davies Nakitare, a retired pilot (Capt), wondered why Nairobi received the signal on the Cameroon crash earlier than Douala.

The MP also wondered what investigations were going on after the crucial "black Box" that records all flight data had not been recovered.

Walking in the valley of death

By Alex Chamwanda

They went to Douala, flying at least four hours, in the same airspace that took away the life of their kin and returned without the bodies. Cyprian Kadurenge, where are you? That is the question Kadurenge brothers, Bernard and Maurice kept on asking as they spent agonising days at the Hotel Sawa.

Cyprian, 23, had worked with Kenya Airways for a year as a flight attendant and West Africa was his regular route. He had enrolled for part-time journalism class at the University of Nairobi. He leaves behind a widow and a one-year-old daughter.
When they set out for the trip to Cameroon, the Kadurenges never thought they would come back from Douala without the body of their brother.

"Life is very slow here, a day is like a month and a night is like a century. It is even more traumatising when you are alone, especially in your room. That is why we walk, eat and chat as a group of mourners who lost their loved ones here, from various nationalities," says Bernard.
The Kadurenges speak my mother tongue and we abandoned English for a while and engaged in the Maragoli dialect of the Luhya language.
I realised that made them feel at home as I continued to console them without necessarily appearing as a journalist who was only interested in filing a story.
They hail from my district, Vihiga, in Western Province. To them I was like a relative. They opened up to me and would always call me to give me updates on the progress of the identification of bodies and counselling.
"Life tastes differently, food tastes differently, the environment is different, but we pray that God gives us strength to overcome this," said Maurice, who works in Dubai.

Symbolic burial

There were 18 relatives who converged in Douala. When the wait became unbearable, emotions ran higher with the relatives demanding to visit the crash scene, just to see the valley of death that killed their loved ones.

The Kadurenge’s were among those who wanted to see the crash scene the soonest, lay wreaths and say a prayer. To some it was symbolic to reach the scene, just in case the bodies would never be found. There are those who scooped soil from the area to take it home. This was particularly common among those from West Africa.
One was overheard saying: "Now I can change the clothes I came with. In my culture we remain with our clothes until the dead is buried, but in this case we do not have the body yet. Visiting the scene is enough to allow us change clothes."
They were initially being restrained from the scene, as some doctors thought it would traumatise them more.

But according to Dr Sobbie Mulindi, a psychiatrist and expert in crisis management, taking them to the scene was unavoidable.
"When death happens suddenly it leaves so many questions unanswered and the bereaved will spend so much time asking, ‘Why? Why? Why?’" says Mulindi.
The relatives will want to find the meaning of the tragedy, why and how it just happened to them," says the psychiatrist. Adding, "It even becomes a more delicate issue when the relatives have no idea where the body of the departed is."

Nightmares

Mulindi, however, says the visit to the scene left some feeling relieved but it equally left others more traumatised.
Some relatives had nightmares after the visit and several decided to return home. This took into account the fact that DNA tests would take considerable time, probably two months before the bodies could be identified.
The Kenyan staffers who were in Douala to help with embalming and transporting the bodies have returned.
The Kadurenges say visiting the scene gave them some relief, but not for the other relatives who were waiting for the body back home. They continue to ask, "Just where is our son Cyprian?"

Apart from the trauma, the tragedy is costly to the families as the longer they wait, the more the expenses in keeping relatives and friends at home as they wait for the body. Not many can forget and go on with their life until some burial rites are performed.
"Counselling is still going on, we continue to track the families, visit them at their homes and the most important thing we tell them is to keep the mind busy so that they are distracted from the tragedy. Some have already come to terms with the death," says Mulindi.
Mulindi, who was involved in the crisis management of the Abidjan plane crash in 2000, says the Douala one has been more challenging. Forensic experts from Britain had to be called in to help.
They initially had a rough time communicating with the relatives about the delay in identification but most of the relatives have come to understand that there is nothing that can be done to make identification faster other than through DNA tests.
Maurice who works with a legal firm in Dubai says he has no option but to go back to work in Dubai next week.

"I will just be waiting for confirmation about the DNA tests while I continue to work then once confirmed, I fly back to Nairobi, and probably to Douala again if necessary. Life has to go on. We have even dispatched some relatives back to our village in Hamisi," says Maurice.
The Douala crash has been as confusing as there are speculations. Relatives, journalists, emergency service providers, doctors and even investigators have all found it a baffling and energy supping experience given the many unanswered questions.
Just reaching the crash scene in Mpanga Mpongo Forest was a nightmare, as one has to walk for about 20 minutes in soggy paths. Transport minister, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere underwent the same in darkness the night the wreckage was spotted.
Mwakwere shed tears at the scene in the stillness of darkness and conveyed his condolences, on behalf of President Kibaki to the next of kin.

Poor information flow

Investigators and emergency service providers from both countries have been involved in the recovery process, but not without a few hitches.
There was better co-ordination and communication in the Abidjan than in Douala.
A major problem was language barrier. Bureaucracy, lack of equipment, even water pumps, also contributed to slowing the recovery. Water pumps had to be transported from Kenya to help push out water from the crater where some the remains and plane parts are believed to be submerged.
Attendez! Attendez! became a national anthem as everywhere one went, one would be told that. Atten)dez is a French word meaning, wait. Everything there has to be approved in writing by someone even in an emergency.
A Kenyan official at the crisis management centre in Douala who sought anonymity, observed that the blame was not just on the Cameroonian side.

The Kenyan side is also to blame, especially Kenya Airways, regarding information flow. "Unlike the Abidjan experience, we have no senior KQ official here to help in quick decision making. Certain decisions have to be made in Nairobi. Everyone has been told to avoid talking to journalists, including counsellors and relatives. That gives room to speculation," he said.
The Kenyan investigation team is led by Mr Peter Wakahia, the Director of Air Accident Investigations assisted by investigators, engineers, pilots, communication and security experts from KQ. He said investigation would revolve around the man, the machine and the environment.
Theories about the cause of the crash are many but certain media reports have blamed the pilot for "ignoring warning over bad weather".
However, Mr Sama Juma, the director of Civil Aviation in Cameroon says it is unfortunate that "media are competing for unconfirmed reports and putting words in the mouths of people".
Media reports attributed to Juma said that he had confirmed that the pilot took off in stormy conditions despite warning.

Speaking to The Sunday Standard on phone Juma said: "When I was asked whether the pilot knew about the weather, all I said is that as usual a pilot is always informed of weather conditions whether it is raining or not. Similarly the pilot of the ill-fated plane was informed. Never did I say he took off defying warning. No pilot can just take off without being cleared and no one know yet whether the crash was due to bad weather.
Let’s wait for investigations."
Juma also denied that there was lack of harmony between the Kenyans and Cameroonians. He said Mwakwere worked closely with Cameroonian authorities up to the level of getting approval for the formation of a commission of inquiry whose members have yet to be named.

Expansion of global economy poses new maritime challenges

President Mwai Kibaki has cautioned that the expansion of the global economy has created new challenges to the maritime transport and the International Maritime Organization must urgently look into ways of adapting.
He noted that the growing global interdependence and the need to transport larger volumes of goods has resulted in the building and launching of bigger vessels plying the seas, leading to increased risk and incidences of sunken ships along the sea channels.
“Today, the bulk of the world’s merchandise and energy supplies are carried by seagoing vessels. This places maritime transport at the heart of global trading systems and the global economy as a whole,” the President said.
In this regard, President Kibaki urged the International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states to work conclusively towards finalizing the process that will allow the adoption of the Wreck Removal Convention.
It has taken thirty years to agree on a draft convention that is being discussed in Nairobi this week.
The President was speaking during the official opening of the International Maritime Organization’s Conference on Wreck Removal Convention at the United Nations Headquarters at Gigiri in Nairobi. The conference is taking place in Africa for the first time.
Appreciating that negotiations leading to the draft convention have been protracted for over thirty years, the President called for consultations and accommodation of different interests of the member states, ship owners and other stakeholders.
“This Conference is taking place at an opportune time, as the growing pace of global economic growth and maritime trade have clearly demonstrated that we can no longer postpone the need for a binding Convention,” he said.
He said that agreement and consensus on the adoption of the draft convention would lead to better maritime safety, reduction in the costs and risks to maritime transport and better protection of the global maritime environment.
President Kibaki stressed that the draft convention has clear benefits to the maritime industry, as it would create a legal framework on the removal of wrecks.
The President added that the draft convention will also propose guidelines that will enable member states to enforce regulations on locating and marking wrecks, as well as determining the liabilities of responsible parties in removing the hazardous wrecks and materials.
The Head of State pointed out that apart from the environmental hazards posed to the delicate marine ecosystems, shipwrecks constitute a growing danger to safe navigation to many ports and crowded sea-lanes.
In this connection, President Kibaki thanked the International Maritime Organization member States and their dedicated staff for working tirelessly over the last three decades to come up with the draft convention that will contribute to improved maritime safety.
The President expressed satisfaction that the IMO’s Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa in Nairobi is actively involved towards advancing maritime safety and security in the region.
He pointed out that Kenya is also honoured to host the Regional Maritime Coordination Centre for search and rescue operations for seafarers and ships in distress.
“This center coordinates operations in the whole of the East African region. It also plays an essential role in monitoring accidents and incidents of piracy and armed robberies against ships in the Indian Ocean,” the President said.
The Head of State also thanked all the member states, the council and the assembly of the International Maritime Organization for honouring Kenya by accepting the invitation to host the conference in Nairobi.
“This is a clear indication that the continent is ready and willing to play a more active role in the international maritime affairs,” President Kibaki said.
He appreciated the recent efforts by the International Maritime Organization to increase its support to Africa in the areas of safety and security, search and rescue capacity building, technical cooperation, human resource development and the fight against international terrorism and piracy.
Present were the International Maritime Organization Mr. Efthimios Mitropoulos and Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere among others.

SOURCES: Presidential Press Service

State House, Nairobi

Shipwreck jobs costly: minister

The Government lacks the funds or expertise to remove abandoned shipwrecks on the Kenyan coast. The exercise was too expensive, Transport minister Ali Chirau Mwakwere said.
Kenya, he said, also lacked the technical capability to undertake such ventures.
He was speaking after the opening of an international conference on the removal of shipwrecks at the Unep headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi.
The minister said there was an urgent need to remove such wreckage to minimise pollution and improve navigation.
Nature of cargo

“We are indeed aware that there are lots of abandoned shipwrecks littering the area close to the port of Mombasa. Most of these vessels, depending on the nature of cargo cause substantial damage to marine and coastal environments,” said the minister.
The minister said he was optimistic that the draft convention on the removal of ship wrecks in the high seas would be passed, saying that the country would fully support it.
“The port of Mombasa is an important hub for many countries including Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Southern Sudan, northern Tanzania and Ethiopia and as such we must take good care of it,” said the minister.
“If these wrecks are allowed to stay in the ships’ pathways, then the country is likely to lose out on millions of shillings as goods being ferried to these countries will not reach their intended markets in time. That’s why we want these rules to be immediately passed for the benefits of our countries.”

Among the proposals in the draft convention include surcharging owners of such wreckage the full cost of removing them and cleaning up the hazardous waste to reduce their numbers in the oceans. Countries with coastlines have been complaining about abandoned wrecked vessels, which pose danger to users of international waters.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) secretary general, Mr Efthimios Mitropoulos, said there were an estimated 1,300 abandoned wrecks worldwide. He said once the convention was adopted, it would provide the legal basis for states to remove wrecks that had potential to affect the safety of goods and property at sea as well as the marine environment.
“However, the effective legislation of the new convention will, in most cases require the enactment of appropriate legislation and putting in place the requisite infrastructure to assist in proper assessment of any hazards,” said Mr Mitropoulos.

The four-day conference, which brings together 167 IMO members states, will also discuss locating ships and reporting wrecks to the nearest coastal state, determination of hazards, especially when they happen beyond territorial waters, and financial liability for locating, marking and removing ships and wrecks.

President Kibaki is expected to officially open it today.

Story by DAVE OPIYO

Publication Date: 5/15/2007

Our hearts go out to those victims of KQ plane crash

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

Kenya: Africa's Newest Aviation Hub?

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With the rehabilitation of 15 airstrips, the renovation of the Moi International Airport, and the expansion of the Kisumu Airport, Kenyan government is making bold strides to become the leading aviation hub in Africa.

Transport minister, Mr. Chirau Ali Mwakwere, said that the move was in tandem with the ongoing harmonization of aviation sector in the East Africa Community and Comesa region.He said the Government would continue to provide the necessary infrastructure and put in place appropriate policies to enable the aviation industry to thrive."Kenya will be one of the leading countries in Africa in terms of aviation," he said.He added: "This year, 10 more airstrips are planned for upgrading while 14 more will be inspected for rehabilitation."

Among airports earmarked for upgrading is Moi International Airport in Mombasa, which is currently under going renovation, and Kisumu Airport whose run way will be extended at estimated cost of Sh2.6 billion.At the Kisumu Airport, the terminal building will be expanded and the runway increased to 3.2km, from the current 2.1km, to accommodate bigger aircraft.

A new control tower will also be built.Other facilities to be upgraded are lighting and security systems. Another airport in the sights of KAA for expansion is the Malindi Airport, which locals want to be upgraded to an international airport. The Wajir Airport terminal building has been constructed and the control tower rehabilitated for the airport to serve both military and civilian aircraft

Black box focus of Kenyan plane search

DOUALA, Cameroon, May 8 (UPI) — A Kenyan Airlines plane that crashed in a Cameroon swamp, apparently killing the 114 people aboard, ran into trouble right after taking off, officials said.
The Boeing 737-800 crashed Saturday in a forest 25 miles from where it took off in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, headed to Nairobi with passengers and crew from more than 20 countries, The Nation reported.
Officials were searching for the plane's black box in a water-filled huge hole left by the plane's fuselage.
After visiting the scene, there is no possibility that any passenger survived, Kenyan Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere told reporters, The Nation reported.
The flight had been delayed for nearly an hour before its departure.
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ImediNews,
Tbilis, Georgia
Copyright © 2007 by United Press International

Prime Minister receives Kenyan Minister of Transport

Kenyan Minister of Transport, Honorable Chirau Ali Mwakwere has expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Government and people of Cameroon for the high level cooperation that is being given his country and Kenya Airways following the crash of the Boeing 737/800 of the air carrier last Friday, May 5, 2007 in Mbanga Pongo.

The Kenyan Minister was speaking to the press after a curtesy call on the Prime Minister, Ephraim Inoni on Tuesday, the 8th of May 2007 at the star building at 11am. He said the audience offered him the opportunity to convey the heartfelt condolences of the Government of Kenya to the government and people of Cameroon, especially to the families that lost their loved ones in the crash.

Discussions with Cameroon's Head of Government, enabled both parties evaluate the level of cooperation and the work carried out since the fateful Saturday morning. Seven Committees were set up jointly during a meeting chaired by Cameroon's Secretary of State in the ministry of transport, and are already working.

First of all, the technical committee that is trying to put bits and pieces of the aircraft together, then, there is the team retrieving the bodies and property of passengers. Another committee takes care of communication and logistics while there is one coordinating the work of all the committees. All the committees include kenyan and Cameroonian nationals and Minister Mwakwere explained that he is very impressed by this systematic approach of the Cameroonian Government officials. To the bereaved families, he expressed the wish that God gives them the strength to bear the great loss.

On his part, Prime Minister, Head of Government Ephraim Inoni, who also expressed deep sympathy to the people and Government of Kenya, went on to assure the Kenyan Minister of Government's fullest collaboration to provide all that will enable the commissions work effectively. For the time being, efforts are geared towards comforting family members and providing them with as much information as the enquiry unfolds.
Honorable Chirau Ali Mwakwere who arrived Cameroon on Saturday afternoon was accompanied to the Prime Minister's Office by some of his close aides and the Sales and Marketing Executive of Kenyan Airways in Cameroon.

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Mwakwere Meets Cameroon Premier Ephraim Inoni

Today’s news updates include the following : Wreckage of the Douala crash found – 40 mutilated bodies recovered so far; Today is 2nd African Day for the reduction of maternal and neo-natal mortality; Certificate examinations for 2007 – 2008 under scrutiny by Secondary Education officials; Cameroon commemorates International Day of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; Friedrich Herbert Foundation to host meeting on condition of the Cameroonian journalist.

The badly mutilated bodies of 40 passengers of the Kenya Airways plane that crashed at Banga Pongo near Douala have been retrieved from the wreckage. A special unit has been setup near the disaster site to reconstitute the bodies for easy identification and eventual burial. Another team of experts has been constituted to take care of the psycho-social worries of the affected families. Meanwhile, the government of Cameroon has opened an investigation into the crash that killed all 114 passengers on board the plane.

The investigation team created by Prime Minister Ephraim Inioni yesterday includes government officials and aviation experts from Cameroon, Kenya and the US Boeing company that manufactured the aircraft.

Meantime, the visiting Kenyan Minister of Transport, the Honourable Chirau Ali Mwakwere has expressed optimism that the high level of cooperation between Cameroonian and Kenyan authorities will greatly strengthen efforts to unravel the mystery surrounding the crash of Kenya Airways flight KQ 507 last Saturday 5 May 2007 in Douala.

After a courtesy audience granted him today in Douala by Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni, Mr. Chirau Ali Mwakwere said the joint-committees of representatives from Cameroon and Kenya should gather the data to shed light on the tragedy. He once again used the audience at the Star Building to convey his government’s condolences and deepest sympathy to the families of the passengers that perished in the crash.

Mwakwere says KQ will not stop W. African route

Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni.

By Agatha King’oo

KENYA Airways will embark on building its reputation to boost customer confidence in West Africa routes following the tragedy that befell one of its planes in Douala, Cameroon.
Speaking when he held discussions with Cameroon Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni, Transport minister, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, described the crash as most unfortunate and called for support from both Governments to promote commercial and social interaction of their citizens.

He was optimistic that the Flight Voice Recorder would be recovered to assist in investigations to establish the cause of the crash. So far the Flight Data Recorder has been retrieved from the wreckage.
At the same time, Mwakwere conveyed condolences from the Government and the people of Kenya to the Cameroonian Government and the Cameroonian families which lost their loved ones in the tragic crash.

He said the Government was grateful for the support and effort the Cameroon authorities have accorded towards the search and recovery operations. Further, he expressed satisfaction to the Cameroon Government for involving Kenyan officials in the key committees that have been set up to oversee investigations into the crash.
Inoni, on his part, said his Governmnet has already formed a commission of inquiry to co-ordinate and carry out investigations on the incident and later share information with Kenya Airways and the Kenyan Governmnet officials currently in Douala.
Noting that almost all of the victims being recovered from the wreckage could not be identified, he said all efforts are now to ensure that their remains are taken care of and accorded utmost dignity.

He also conveyed to the Government and people of Kenya his Government’s sympathies and condolences following the death of nine Kenyan crew members in the ill-fated flight.
The Flight KQ 507 crashed on Saturday in Douala, Cameroon with 114 passengers on board. Majority of the passengers were from Cameroon.

Swamp, forests hampering rescue: Indian mission in Nairobi

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Darkness, thick forests and swamp forced rescue workers Monday evening to call off search operations to locate the wreckage of the crashed Kenyan Airways plane which had 114 passengers on board, including 15 Indians. There is not much hope of finding any survivors, the Indian mission in Nairobi said.

The search will resume Tuesday.
'As darkness set in, it became difficult for the search parties to continue search operations for the wreckage as the place is thickly forested and swampy. The operations will continue tomorrow,' an Indian High Commission official told IANS on phone from Nairobi.
A member of the Kenyan delegation, led by its minister Chirau Mwakwere, visited the site of the crash and described the scene as 'horrifying'. There was not much hope of finding any survivors, the official quoted the team as saying.
According to the Kenyan official, the fuselage was submerged in a swamp and pieces of the aircraft were strewn across a large area.

The search team, comprising Mwakwere and the Governor of Douala, among others, had to wade through waist-high mud to reach the site of the crash.
Earlier, Kenyan Airways Chief executive Titus Naikuni had said the Boeing 737-800 had been located in a mangrove swamp, 20 km southwest of Douala, a business centre on the Cameroon coast, where the flight took off early Saturday.
The crash site is obstructed by trees and was not visible from overhead, and the location is inaccessible to vehicles, Naikuni said.

The aircraft took off Friday from Abidjan the Ivory Coast and made an interim stop at Douala. The final leg to Nairobi was delayed about an hour by heavy rain. It off shortly after midnight.
Within 15 minutes of takeoff, the pilot sent a distress signal, but air traffic controllers were unable to reach the flight crew. Further rain on Saturday and Sunday hampered search operations.
The Boeing jet was just six months old and in perfect mechanical condition, according to the airline.

Most of those onboard came from Cameroon, India and people from several African countries. The crew was from Kenya.

Search for missing plane continues in Cameroon

We've even sent boys out on motorcycles along main routes in the region to see whether they can see any trace of the plane crash."-- Jean-Francois Nzenang, senior administrative officer for the region around Kribi, Cameroon

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Cameroon's state radio said yesterday it did not have sufficient evidence to confirm its earlier report that a missing Kenya Airways plane with 114 people aboard had been found in southern Cameroon.
"Earlier we broadcast a report that the plane had been found at Awanda, but for the time being we do not have sufficient evidence to confirm, to be completely sure, that the plane has been found," the radio station said.
Teams of rescuers and villagers combed thick tropical forest in southern Cameroon yesterday for the wreckage of a Kenya Airways passenger plane which crashed after takeoff in the central African country, officials said.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which was carrying 114 people from more than 20 countries, went missing on Saturday after leaving Douala airport bound for Nairobi in torrential rain. It was reported to have come down in thick jungle.
Military and civil aviation helicopters scoured a wide zone in the central African country between Kribi on the Atlantic coast and Ngomedzap, south of the capital Yaounde, but the remote location and poor weather did little to help.

"We've even sent boys out on motorcycles along main routes in the region to see whether they can see any trace of the plane crash," Jean-Francois Nzenang, senior administrative officer for the region around Kribi, said by telephone.
But they failed to locate the plane, which initially set off from Ivory Coast, before darkness and heavy rain forced the hunt to be called off for the night.
Kenya Airways Group managing director Titus Naikuni told a press conference in Nairobi yesterday the search was resuming with two extra helicopters.
A signal from the plane's emergency locator beacon that had been picked up on Saturday was lost, he said, raising fears the machine's battery may run out.
"The equipment is only able to transmit information for 48 hours," he said. "The signal is not being received right now."

A Kenyan search team -- led by Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere -- sent to help the Cameroonian authorities arrived in the country late on Saturday.
Mwakwere was due to meet with the governor responsible for area where the search was concentrated, government spokesman Alfred Mutua told the press conference.
Radar-equipped helicopters, including one sent by the French military from a base in Gabon, were focusing on an area between three or four towns, a French diplomat in Cameroon said.
The US was providing satellite imagery to help in the search, and Mutua said other governments would pitch in.

"We expect to get more assistance from the French, American and British governments," Mutua said, adding it was the responsibility of Cameroon to make the request.
Cameroonian Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni set up a crisis committee to coordinate search and rescue efforts, a communique broadcast on state media said.

Late on Saturday state TV in Cameroon showed hundreds of people gathering somberly outside the Kenya Airways office in Douala -- the nation's largest city -- and at Douala's airport, many clutching radios or telephones to their ears, and some weeping.
Many in the Kenyan capital Nairobi joined special prayer services yesterday for the missing.
The aircraft, which was only six months old, was carrying nine Kenyan crew and 105 passengers including 83 Africans of several nationalities, 15 Indians, six Chinese, five Britons, one Swiss, one Swede and one US citizen.

Most of the passengers were connecting through Nairobi to other destinations outside Kenya.
Kenya Airways said the Douala control tower had received a last message from the aircraft right after takeoff.

Kenya Airways has three 737-800s in its fleet and Naikuni said they had not decided whether to ground the others.
In January 2000 a Kenya Airways Airbus crashed into the sea after taking off from Abidjan airport, killing 169 passengers and crew. This story has been viewed 1428 times.
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AGENCIES, YAOUNDE
Monday, May 07, 2007, Page 1

Mwakwere to lead team of investigators to Cameroon

A high powered delegation led by Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere leave for Doula Cameroon later Saturday to assess the status of the missing passengers and plane.Kenya Airways Managing Director Titus Naikuni said the team which includes crash investigators from Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, will fly out to assist the Cameroon government in the rescue efforts. Naikuni also added that KQ is in constant contact with the Civil Aviation Authority in Cameroon to get the latest information regarding the crashed plane.

The Cameroon government had already sent a helicopter to the crash site, where a distress signal was last received from the missing plane. KQ says the crashed plane was only 6 months old and was fully maintained and serviced.Families of the 9 KQ crew members who were on the plane have already been informed and Kenya Airways has promised to fly them out to the crash site once concrete details on their status has been determined.

Meanwhile nominated member Prof Ruth Oniango has expressed her sympathy with the unfolding situation. She says as a national carrier, Kenyans should empathize with Kenya airways and join hands at this time of tragedy.

Kenya Broadcasting Corp.
Story by: Daniel Langat ,
Posted: Sat, May 05, 2007

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Experts leave for Cameroon

A Government delegation led by Transport minister, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, will leave for Doula Cameroon later today to assess the plane tragedy and status of the missing passengers.

Kenya Airways managing director, Mr Titus Naikuni, speaking during a press conference at Panari Hotel, said the team which includes crash investigators from Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, will assist the Cameroon Government in the rescue.The team of experts will be led by Peter Wakaiya (chief accident investigator Ministry of Transport), Brigadier Jackson Waweru (Deputy Airfor Commander), Nicholas Kamwende (Police anti-terrorism), John Patrick Ochieng (Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of air accident investigations) and Peter Munyao (Inspector accidents at the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority).

At same time, the Government and Cameroon Civil Authority approached the US government to assist in tracking the missing plane."We hope that with satellite communication information we will track the flight path and hopefully establish the fate of flight 507," Mwakwere said.Naikuni added that KQ is in constant contact with the civil aviation authority in Cameroon for the latest information regarding the missing plane. "The information we have just received from Cameroon indicates that the plane went missing 35 nautical miles from Yaounde," said Naikuni.
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Sunday Standard
May, 6, 2007

Kenya Airways Crashes in Cameroon enroute to Nairobi

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Kenya Airways Jet Crashes in Cameroon

Cameroon state radio says a Kenya Airways jetliner with 114 people on board has crashed in southern Cameroon. The plane took off from Cameroon's commercial center of Douala early Saturday and was bound for the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Katy Migiro has more for VOA from Nairobi, where Kenya Airways has set up a crisis center.
Kenya Airways chief executive Titus Naikuni says the aircraft lost touch with the control tower in Doula immediately after take off.

Naikuni says Cameroonian authorities picked up an automatic distress signal from the plane and they have sent helicopters to the area the signal came from.
"The latest information that we have is that a distress signal was picked up on the west coast of Africa and a search and rescue mission, initiated by the Cameroonian authorities, was initiated at 1105 this morning, that is Nairobi time," he said. "So far no report has yet been received from this mission."

The distress signal came from an area about 35 nautical miles south west of Doula.
Naikuni says there were 105 passengers and nine crew members on board the plane. He says most of the passengers were African, but there were also Europeans, Asians and one American on the flight.

Government spokesperson Alfred Mutua described the situation as tragic. He says a team of Kenya Airways and Kenyan government officials are leaving for Cameroon in a few hours.
"The government has co-ordinated a team of officials and experts led by the Honorable Minister of Transport Chirau Ali Mwakwere to travel to Cameroon and link up with authorities there so as to establish what is happening and also lead the operation," he said. "The government will do everything to unearth the cause of this accident in order to prevent it from occurring again."

In 2000, 169 people died when a Kenya Airways Airbus crashed into the sea shortly after take off from Abidjan, in Ivory Coast. The missing plane was only six months old.

Men’s News Daily,

Guerneville, California, USA

May 4, 2007 at 11:00 pm ·

Filed under VOA Top Stories, VOA, VOA Africa

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Search underway for missing Kenyan jet

An air and ground search is taking place in the west African country of Cameroon for a plane that's believed to have crashed in dense forest.It's said to be carrying 114 passengers and crew.The plane belongs to Kenya Airways.

It disappeared not long after taking off off from Cameroon's second city, Douala.Kenya's transport minister, Chirau Ali Mwakwere says no effort is being spared to find the plane."I'd like to take this opportunity to assure everyone that the government of Kenya is doing everything possible to assure that the location of the plane is identified, the state of the passengers and crew is known and I would like to say that we appreciate the support that we are already getting from the Cameroonian government."
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ABC Radio Australia
Australia Broadcasting Corp
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Kenya Airways plane crashes in Cameroon, search on
Tansa Musa, Reuters

A Kenya Airways passenger plane with 114 people on board crashed in a densely forested area of southern Cameroon on Saturday shortly after takeoff, government and aviation officials said.
Military and civil aviation helicopters were scouring a wide zone in the central African country between Kribi on the Atlantic coast and Ngomedzap, south of the capital Yaounde.
"The search is underway but the accident site has not yet been found," the Transport Ministry said in a statement

State radio earlier reported the plane crashed near Niete, north of the border with Equatorial Guinea, after taking off from Cameroons second city of Douala.
"We were not able to locate any wreckage at Niete where first information suggested the crash may have occurred," a local government official in southern Cameroon told Reuters.

He said the search had shifted to another area southwest of the capital between the towns of Lolodorf and Ebolowa where inhabitants said they had heard a loud explosion.
In Nairobi, Kenya Airways Group Managing Director Titus Naikuni said authorities in Cameroon had picked up an automatic distress signal from the area where the plane went missing.
"The distress call came from a machine, not a pilot," he said.

Kenya Airways said the 737-800 airliner, which began its journey in Ivory Coasts main city Abidjan and stopped over in Cameroon, was carrying 105 passengers and nine crew.
The airline said there were 34 Cameroonians, 15 Indians, seven South Africans, six Chinese, five Britons and one American among the passengers, the bulk of whom were from African countries. The nine crew were all Kenyans.
The company said the Douala control tower had received the last message from the aircraft right after takeoff. The plane had been due to land in Nairobi at 6:15 a.m.

Kenyan Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere said the U.S. government was assisting in the search with satellite images taken over the expected flight path.
Kenya Airways, one of Africas few profitable carriers, set up a crisis centre to monitor events and a passenger information centre at a hotel in Nairobi.
The carrier generally has a good safety record on a continent where air accidents are above the world average.

The plane was six months old and had no history of problems, Naikuni said. Kenyan media reported there was rain in Douala when the plane took off.
On Jan. 30, 2000, a Kenya Airways Airbus A-310 crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff from Abidjan, killing 169 of the 179 passengers and crew.
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Montreal Gazette
Montreal Quebec, Canada
Published: Saturday, May 05, 2007

Mwakwere named Narc Kenya vice chairman in the new party leaders line-up

Vice President Moody Awori today unveiled a new leadership line-up for Narc Kenya, the party widely believed President Kibaki would run on for his quest for a second term.

Foreign Affairs minister Raphael Tuju becomes the party's new chairman, but he will have eight vice-chairpersons, positions that have gone mainly to Cabinet ministers who have previously declared their interest in contesting for the party chairmanship.

The eight vice chairmen are Kipruto Kirwa, Mutua Katuku, Prof George Saitoti, Martha Karua, Kiraitu Murungi, Chirau Mwakwere, Mahamud Mohamed, and Prof Kivutha Kibwana. All are Cabinet ministers except Mr Mohammed, who is an assistant minister.

Trade minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi was appointed the secretary general while Mr Danson Mungatana, an assistant minister, becomes the national organising secretary.
The VP announced the new line-up in an early morning press briefing held at the party’s headquarters in Nairobi. The team, comprising 58 officials, forms the party's national executive committee.

Mr Awori, who is also the Narc Kenya deputy party leader, said the committee had been expanded from 40 to 60 to accommodate various interests including sitting Members of Parliament and aspirants. The party constitution, he added, will be amended to reflect the changes.
On grassroots party elections, Mr Awori said the exercise should be completed before the budget is presented to Parliament in June.

He called on the new leadership to embark on aggressive membership recruitment and popularization campaigns starting with a major public rally to be held in Eldoret tomorrow.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Tuju said he will seek to bridge the differences that have threatened to divide the party in line with its motto of one people, one country, one nation.
He reiterated the party’s resolve to campaign for the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki whom he described as a working president in the forthcoming general elections.
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Daily Nation &
VPPS Publication Date: 5/3/2007

Coast MPs seek unity

Kenya Times story by Benard Onyari

A section of legislators from Coast province plan to hold a bonding meeting that would bring together groups allied to Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere on the one hand, and that of Garsen MP Danson Mungatana on the other.
The talks, according to Ganze MP Joseph Kingi, are meant to bridge the widening rift between Mwakwere and Mungatana.

Though he was vague on the exact date of meeting, Kingi who is also an assistant minister in charge of provincial administration, said it would centre on the differences that had emanated between the two MPs with regard to matters concerning Narc-Kenya’s grassroots elections.
He noted that Coast legislators allied to Narc-K were worried that the differences between Mungatana and Mwakwere could deny the region a chance to capture the party’s secretary-general’s post.

Speaking after laying a foundation stone for Bandari Secondary School at Bamba in his constituency over the weekend, Kingi said the legislators from Coast allied to the party were of the idea that both camps should join hands for the welfare of the region.
Mungatana and Mwakwere have been at loggerheads after both declared interest in contesting for Narc-Kenya’s secretary-generalship. Their differences escalated after they differed on whom to support in the Magarini by-election, with Mwakwere’s group rallying behind Shirikisho Party candidate, Harrison Kombe, a move that saw Narc-K, which was perceived to have a head-start in the by-election, pull out of the race in favour of Kombe.
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Kenya Times
May 1, 2007

Aviation sector prepares for status as hub

The Government has rehabilitated 15 airstrips as it targets to position the country as a leading aviation hub in Africa.
Transport minister, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, said that the move was in tandem with the ongoing harmonisation of aviation sector in the East Africa Community and Comesa region.
He said the Government would continue to provide the necessary infrastructure and put in place appropriate policies to enable the aviation industry to thrive.
"Kenya will be one of the leading countries in Africa in terms of aviation," he said.
He added: "This year, 10 more airstrips are planned for upgrading while 14 more will be inspected for rehabilitation."
Among airports earmarked for upgrading is Moi International Airport in Mombasa, which is currently under going renovation, and Kisumu Airport whose run way will be extended at estimated cost of Sh2.6 billion.
At the Kisumu Airport, the terminal building will be expanded and the runway increased to 3.2km, from the current 2.1km, to accommodate bigger aircraft. A new control tower will also be built.
Other facilities to be upgraded are lighting and security systems.
Another airport in the sights of KAA for expansion is the Malindi Airport, which locals want to be upgraded to an international airport.
The Wajir Airport terminal building has been constructed and the control tower rehabilitated for the airport to serve both military and civilian aircraft.
"The ministry has reviewed several existing Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA), initiated and concluded new ones, in the past four years," said Mwakwere.
Twenty four BASAs have attracted new operators in the country.
"As the industry continues to witness economic growth, the number of tourists are increasing, the ministry will make sure that our airstrips are upgraded to airports to accommodate more planes," he said.

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Source: The Standard
By Brian Adero
Tuesday May 1, 2007

Awori leads team to campaign for Kombe

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Vice-President Moody Awori yesterday led a team to campaign for Shirikisho Party of Kenya candidate Harrison Garama Kombe for the Magarini by-election.
Mr Awori said the Government threw its weight behind Mr Kombe because he has been supporting its programmes in and out Parliament since 2002.
Mr Kombe was already conversant with parliamentary proceedings and would find it easier to liaise with relevant ministries in order to initiate development projects in Magarini, said the VP.
Initiate projects
“There are only four months remaining before Parliament is dissolved for the General Election in December. A new MP would require time to learn parliamentary proceedings and to settle down before initiating meaningful projects,” Mr Awori said.
He said Mr Kombe had increased the number of secondary schools in Magarini from two to nine.
Mr Kombe had also initiated water projects and improved infrastructure, according to Mr Awori.
“We also came here to show our appreciation for a true friend,” the VP said.
The VP had prevailed upon some Narc-Kenya candidates to step down in support of Mr Kombe who lost his seat through a petition.
Awori said the Government also backed him because Mr Kombe had been endorsed by the Mijikenda community.

He said every party, regardless of its size, deserved representation in the Government of National Unity.
Mr Awori spoke at Marafa trading centre in the constituency where he led Coast leaders in drumming up support for Mr Kombe for the May 14 by election.

Improve roads

Through Mr Kombe, the Government promised to continue funding development projects in Magarini such as rural electrification and improvement of feeder roads.
Others at the rally were Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Immigration assistant minister Anania Mwaboza, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Mombasa branch chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao and Shirikisho Party of Kenya first vice-chairman John Safari Mumba.

Mr Mwakwere said as the spokesman of the Mijikenda community, they fully supported Mr Kombe.

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Sources: Daily Nation

Tues, May 1'st 2007