The Ministry of Transport has stated that Kenya's plan to have direct flights to the United States will not stop with the American change of regime in January.
Transport Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera who was speaking to the Star on the sidelines of the 6th Africa Aviation Law Conference on Friday, however said that the Federal Aviation Administration which is the regulator of all American civil aviation aspects is an independent body and cannot be influenced by the federal government.
“From where we sit, getting direct flights to the US is an independent function of the FAA. I don't think politics could play into the process," said Nyakera.
The FAA had earlier conducted and completed a 5-day inspection on Kenya's aviation industry's safety and security measures in the past week and is set to decide whether the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport attains the first Grade status which is needed before direct flights are accepted.
Further, the Kenya Cilvil Aviation Authority Director General Gilbert Kibe said that everything is ready and now they are only waiting for the green light from the FAA .
''They are going to file the report in the next 30 days and give it to us. The report will tell us if we are going ahead,” he said.