Ajabu Africa News

PHOTO:

President Uhuru Kenyatta with Deputy President William Ruto (left) at JKIA shortly before leaving fo

By:

CYRUS OMBATI

Posted:

Apr,27-2015 10:50:14

More details have emerged of President Uhuru Kenyatta's night flight to the United States last Thursday that was cancelled midair and ordered to return to avoid the dangers of wading through Yemeni airspace,which is literally a war zone.

The fresh details include the scramble by high-profiled personalities who had a few hours earlier seen the President off, to get back to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to receive him.

The strain of getting back, given that many of the VIPs had released their core escort staff, was discernible from the case of Deputy President William Ruto who is reported to have driven himself and one guard from his Karen home to the airport where he was later joined by his main team.

And in what could further add to the perception Uhuru’s was a jinxed trip, it also turned out that the billionaire who is hosting the 18th annual edition of a global gathering organised by the Milken Institute, Michael Milken, has a criminal record complete with spending time in a prison.

It also turned out that the officials key to the planning of the trip were at State House for a meeting and it is believed that some of them may lose their jobs, especially if it turns out that the flight was cancelled following entry into Eritrean airspace without clearance.

This would be an 'expensive' case of misjudgment by the flight route planners because the President according to protocol would be sending goodwill messages to the leaders whose airspace he was flying through.

But even if the Yemeni case holds true, still questions will be asked on why the President was routed through a war zone which is frequently closed, especially in the peak of bombardment of Yemeni rebels by some cross-nations Middle East allies.

Uhuru was headed to Dubai where he would have left his smaller craft and switch over to commercial airline for the trans-ocean trip to Los Angeles. Sources in government reveal that the cost of cancelling flight tickets and accommodation in hotels would also put a strain on an already bad situation over which it is said disappointed the President.

There is also a new twist to the abortive trip, with airport sources revealing that they were put on high alert because of what they were told, 'the plane is coming back and there is a problem with fuel'.If this was the case, then probably it was in reference to the number of hours the plane had been in air given that it doesn't have a long-range capacity like the bigger hauliers.

Inquiry within security circles revealed that top officials were alerted about the Head of State's troubled trip just half-hour before the landing of his Kenya Airforce aircraft, a Fokker 70. It touched down at 11.42pm over what State House said was 'increased military activity in Yemen'.

Among those at JKIA to receive the President were the outgoing Chief of Defence Forces General Julius Karangi and Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet.The incoming CDF General Samson Mwathethe, who was among those who had seen off Uhuru hours earlier, was among those who did not make it to the airport for the second time.

"The news of his coming back came about 30 minutes before the plane touched down. Many of those who were at the airport earlier on could not make it on time," said a source.

The Harambee One - Kenya Air Force Fokker 70- carrying the President had about 10 dignitaries and four bodyguards.

Reports suggested that Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) officials were alerted that the presidential jet had a problem with fuel and was on its way back."Emergency services were mobilised and put on standby. Some of the VIPs drove themselves to the airport while reacting to the incident because the news was that the jet was running out of fuel and had difficulties in landing," said an official aware of the incident.

However, it is standard procedure for emergency services to be on standby whenever a plane, including commercial airlines are landing.

A source claimed when he came out from the aircraft, President Kenyatta only shook hands with Ruto, held a brief chat with him before he got into his car and drove to State House.

"The President was very furious and was throwing words asking why all that happened. He also demanded answers," said a source familiar with the issue.

On Friday morning, National Intelligence Service Director General Maj-Gen Philip Kameru and Air Force Commander Maj-Gen Samuel Thuita were among those summoned to State House.

The President was not present at the meeting but demanded answers and action, officials said.There are reports that disciplinary action would be taken on individuals behind the apparent lapse.

Kenya's Ambassador to Ethiopia Catherine Mwangi was also summoned to Nairobi for discussion.

FLIGHT PATH

And sources say heads are set to roll following the blunders that saw the President's jet turned back from Eritrean air space for violating their aviation rules through failing to seek clearance.

The presidential jet had crossed the Kenyan-Ethiopia border almost 40 minutes later headed for Eritrea, which was the safe route given the Yemeni one had been closed over fighting there.

Sources said reaching the Eritrean airspace, the air controllers were taken aback and opened communication with the aircraft.

The air controllers reportedly told the pilots to either land or turn back to their place of origin or else they would be brought down.

This was because the Eritrean air controllers said they had not been notified of the flight, as should be the case.

It was then that the pilots decided to make a u-turn and informed those on board that they would not proceed or land as asked because presidential jet is a military aircraft and was carrying a President.

"The President's plane was forced to return, after it was detected in the Eritrean airspace without prior clearance. They were told to either land or return. The plane was flying over the Eritrean airspace without authorisation," said the source.

It has since emerged that officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not make prior plans to alert the foreign country officials of the planned flight path.

Multiple sources have revealed such clearance is done by the ministry and at times the President calls the Heads of State where he is supposed to pass to inform them of the planned trip.

The ministry has various personnel including intelligence, military and trade experts seconded to foreign embassies as attaches. Officials are now wondering what could have happened with the flight path given that just a few days ago, he had flown to Jordan, without any hitch.

The President used the same route from Ethiopia last week to Jordan.

Source:

Standard Digital