KQ to resume full flights to Tanzania after Uhuru, Kikwete solve stalemate

Kenya: Kenya Airways is set to resume its full schedule of lucrative flights to Tanzania after President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete broke the deadlock.

In addition, Kenya's ban on Tanzanian registered vehicles at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has also been lifted, effectively unlocking the dispute that was threatening to choke the diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.

The two presidents met on Saturday and struck the deal in the Namibian capital Windhoek, where both were attending the 25th Anniversary celebrations and inauguration of Namibia's new president Dr Hage Geingob.

The meeting took place three days after Kenya Airways flights to Tanzanian routes were cut from 42 to 14, precipitating regional tension.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amb Amina Mohammed said yesterday that the two presidents agreed that within four weeks, the ministers of Foreign Affairs from both countries would convene to chair a meeting of the parties to discuss and reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

The first meeting will be held in Dar-es-Salaam on a date to be agreed by the conveners and will include ministers of Transport, Tourism and Chiefs of Staff of the two presidencies.

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"The meeting was held under a very cordial atmosphere, with the two Heads of State emphasising the need to continue to discuss openly issues affecting the brotherly and long-standing bilateral relationship that exists between Tanzania and Kenya," said Amina.

She was speaking yesterday at the Foreign Affairs headquarters in Nairobi in the company of the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and the East Africa Community Affairs Philys Kandie and her Transport counterpart Michael Kamau.

"Despite our disagreements with Tanzania from time to time over some issues, our relations are cordial.  Even brothers and sisters of one family can have healthy disputes occasionally, which are quickly resolved," she said.

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The CS added: "We maintain good communication with Tanzania, which is one of our partners in the East African Community. I communicate with my Tanzanian counterpart almost every week."

The Ministry of Tourism of Kenya had barred Tanzanian registered vehicles from accessing JKIA while the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority had reduced the frequency of Kenya Airways flights operating between Kenya and Tanzanian airports.

Last Thursday, Kenya Airways flights to lucrative routes in Tanzania had been cut from 42 to a meagre 14  by Tanzania authorities, threatening huge losses to the national carrier, which dominated those routes.

In attendance at the ad hoc meeting in Namibia that broke the deadlock were Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe,  Amina and Kenya's Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau.

Countries in the East African Community are working to remove air travel restrictions in order to boost trade but this dispute between Kenya and Tanzania has been threatening to delay progress.