Kenya Airways (KQ) is facing a succession row following the exit of its chief executive Sebastian Mikosz.
The different stakeholders at the airline have different recommendations as far as the replacement is concerned. The announcement of the CEO‘s departure has led to a war of words between the national carrier and the aviation workers union.
It is evident that the successor will not have an easy day in office. KQ’s human resources boss and Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) secretary-general Moss Ndiema have asked the airline to halt the process of the recruitment of the CEO until the grievances of all parties affected are addressed to the latter.
The different groups have raised concern over the manner in which the process is being undertaken.
The union has questioned how the replacement can be undertaken yet the airline has not publicly advertised. The union said that through an advertisement, the airline will attract more applicants for the position.
In a letter addressed to the KQ’s human resources manager Evelyne Munyoki, the union has lamented that the process lacks fairness and it should be stopped with immediate effect to pave way for a more transparent one. The Unions has vowed to fight back until the right procedure is used to hire the CEO.
“The fact remains that recruitment for the new CEO is being done secretly and were it not for our intervention, the announcement of the appointment was imminent … We shall not tire to point out such irregularities and wanton contravention of policies which in the past has cost the airline immense losses after appointing top executives whose credentials are epitomised by their sheer incompetence well testified by their poor performance at the helm,” said Mr Ndiema said in the letter, as seen by Daily Nation.
The KQ top management has now accused KAWU of attempting to sabotage the whole process. The top brass says that Ndiema has proven beyond doubt that he lacks the will of company at heart and wants to engage in side shows at the expense of smooth operations at the firm.