Two staff members from Kenya Airways are currently detained in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over documentation of ‘valuable’ cargo.
In a statement shared by KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka, the two employees were detained on April 19, 2024 at the airport office in DRC’s capital Kinshasa.
They are being held by the Military Intelligence Unit who seized their phones and personal belongings. Embassy officials and KQ staff from Kenya were allowed to visit them for “only a few minutes” on April 23, 2024.
Apparently, they are detained over alleged missing custom documentation for certain valuable cargo meant to have been loaded on a KQ flight on April 12, 2024.
Kilavuka however maintained that no such cargo landed in their custody as at the time, security checks were yet to be completed for handing over to KQ.
A case was filed at the Military Court and hearing followed on Thursday, April 25. The court ordered unconditional release of the two detained employees.
KQ says however they are still being held by the military unit without any communication whatsoever.
The airline company reiterated that the cargo in question remained in the baggage section undergoing security clearance, when DRC’s military team apprehended KQ employees, claiming they wanted to load the cargo without customs clearance.
Kilavuka termed the unfortunate incident as harassment of Kenya Airways staff members who have remained compliant with international practices on handling and transportation of cargo.
“We are perturbed by this action targeting innocent staff and consider it harassment targeting Kenya Airways business,” he wrote.
He promised to cooperate with relevant investigating agencies as well as engage the Kenyan and DRC governments to resolve the matter.
