Nominated Senator Beatrice Kwamboka move to a Nairobi court seeking that Kenya Airways (KQ) compensates her for moving her from Business to Economy class on a flight from Nairobi to Mombasa last year. 

According to Senator Kwamboka, she had booked business class tickets for a Nairobi-Mombasa flight for herself and her two children on December 6, 2020.

However, she says on December 28, 2020 when she was meant to depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport she learnt the seat she had paid for had been sold to another passenger.

“Regrettably, on the 28th December,2020 the Petitioner was shocked to learn that her seat had been improperly and to her inconvenience ‘sold’ to obviously another favoured client of the Respondent without first offering her an apology and a similar alternative,” her petitition reads.

It adds: “Consequently, the Senator’s children were forced to travel without the company of their mother who was left stranded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for hours before she could find an alternative means of getting to Mombasa.”

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The lawmaker KQ’s decision to move her from a business class seat to an economy class one was not justified and is offensive.  

“The Respondent’s action of transferring the Petitioner from the business class to the economic class without her participation or consultation offends her right to a fair administrative action that is fair and her right to receive in writing reasons for such an adverse action being taken against her,” Kwamboka’s petition adds. 

She wants the court to compel the national carrier to compensate her for allegedly violating her rights and fundamental freedoms under article 27,28,40,46 and 47 of the Constitution of Kenya. 

Kwamboka also wants KQ made to pay her the difference in airfare between the two classes as well as punitive and/or exemplary damages as the court deems fit.