Kipchumba Murkomen, the Transport CS, has broken his silence following the Tanzanian government’s suspension on Kenya Airways passenger flights to the nation.

According to Murkomen, he has begun negotiations with Tanzania’s Minister of Transport to resolve the situation at hand.

The CS reaffirmed that Tanzania is Kenya’s neighbor and a valuable economic partner, and that a solution will be found soon.

He also said that Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi is in negotiations with his Tanzanian counterpart, January Makamba.

“Kufuatia hatua ya Tanzania kusitisha safari za ndege za Kenya Airways nchini humo, nimeanzisha majadiliano ya mara moja na Waziri wa Uchukuzi wa Tanzania Ndugu yangu Profesa Makame Mbarawa kutatua suitafahamu hiyo… Tanzania ni jirani na mshirika wetu mkubwa wa kiuchumi na suluhu ya jambo hili itapatikana hivi punde,” Murkomen said.

This loosely translates to, “Following Tanzania’s decision to suspend Kenya Airways flights in the country, I have initiated an immediate discussion with the Minister of Transport of Tanzania, my brother Professor Makame Mbarawa to resolve the matter… Tanzania is our neighbour and great economic partner and a solution to this matter will be found soon.”

On Monday, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority suspended flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

According to the authority’s director general, Hamza Johari, the flights would be forbidden under Third and Fourth Freedom Traffic Rights from January 22, 2024.

Johari stated that the decision was reached after Kenyan aeronautical authorities denied Tanzania’s request for all-cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited.

In response, KQ stated that it was working with Tanzanian officials to guarantee no flight disruptions.

“Kenya Airways (KQ) is aware of the Public Notice issued by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority on January 15, 2024, rescinding the approvals of KQ to operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam effective 22nd January 2024,” the statement read.

“Kenya Airways is engaging the Civil Aviation Authorities and relevant government agencies in Kenya and Tanzania to find a solution that will ensure there are no flight disruptions between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.”

Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and his Tanzanian counterpart, January Makamba, subsequently declared their resolve to ending the deadlock that had resulted in the suspension of Kenya Airways’ route from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam.

Mudavadi stated that he had spoken with Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Makamba, and pledged to fix the issue.

“We have jointly agreed that our respective Civil Aviation Authorities will work together to have the matter resolved amicably within the next three days. There should therefore be no cause for alarm,” Mudavadi said on Monday.