Nairobi City County Assembly during a past sitting. Some MCAs on Monday caused drama at the airport. [Photo|ghettoradio.co.ke]
Nairobi City County Speaker Beatrice Elachi has issued an apology following the behaviour of MCAs at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday night.
The speaker apologised to the management of Flight 540, pledging to pursue the matter further once the Wards Reps return to the city.
"I am still trying to establish exactly what happened during a recent trip that led to an altercation between our members and your staff," she wrote to the management of Fly 540 on Wednesday.
According to media reports, drama ensued after the MCAs started a quarrel with the airline staff after they barred one of their colleagues, who had arrived late, from boarding a plane.
The reports indicate that Ziwani MCA Millicent Mugadi arrived late for the flight that was supposed to leave at exactly 7pm, but had stalled due to some mechanical problems.
She then tried to force her way into the plane but was barred, prompting fellow MCAs to jump into her defence.
The angry Ward Reps told the pilot of the plane to alight accusing him of harassment.
Mugadi, in her defence, said it was hard for her to get ready in time due to metal plates in her legs following a car accident, an explanation the flight staff could not welcome.
"Maybe the members were behaving in such a manner because they are not aware of airport regulations that dictate one has to be there an hour before take off," Elachi noted.
Following the altercation, 15 MCAs were detained at the airport for hours before they were released.