Raila VIP lounge lock-out denied

Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei as she represented a team from the High Court during a meeting at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, June 4, 2013. Several Government departments appeared before the committee. PHOTO/STEPHEN MUDIARI 

 

 

By NATION REPORTER

 

In Summary

• KAA also said that it has confirmed that, contrary to reports appearing in sections of the media, Mr Odinga and his wife Ida were allowed access and the use of the Government VIP lounge on Monday and last Friday, respectively.
• KAA also clarified that JKIA has three VIP lounges — the State Pavilion for the President and visiting Heads of State, the VIP III lounge for the Deputy President and retired Heads of State and the Government VIP lounge for ambassadors and government VIPs.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his wife were allowed access to the VIP lounge at JKIA, the airports authority has said.

On Monday, it was reported that Mr Odinga was blocked from using a lounge normally reserved for VIPs at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

A Kenya Airports Authority official said to have barred Mr Odinga and his wife is alleged to have cited an order by a top civil servant.

“Kenya Airports Authority would like to clarify that the former Prime Minister and his wife were not denied access to the VIP lounge at JKIA,” a statement from KAA’s corporate affairs department said.

KAA also said that it has confirmed that, contrary to reports appearing in sections of the media, Mr Odinga and his wife Ida were allowed access and the use of the Government VIP lounge on Monday and last Friday, respectively.

However, the authority confirmed that no convoy can drive to the airside, because JKIA is a highly restricted security zone.

“According to national security regulations, only vehicle convoys belonging to the President of Kenya, visiting Heads of State and the Deputy President of Kenya can access the airside at any of the airports in Kenya,” the statement said.

KAA also clarified that JKIA has three VIP lounges — the State Pavilion for the President and visiting Heads of State, the VIP III lounge for the Deputy President and retired Heads of State and the Government VIP lounge for ambassadors and government VIPs.

ODM yesterday demanded an apology from the government for “humiliating” Mr Odinga.

Addressing journalists at Orange House in Nairobi, MPs Manson Nyamweya, Gladys Wanga, Mishi Juma, Silvanos Osele and Simeon Ogari said denying Mr Odinga access was “barbaric and archaic.”

They said the former PM still commands the support of more than half of Kenyans and should be respected.