Kipchumba Murkomen Delighted To Announce Resumption Of Nairobi-Brussels Direct Flights

• Brussels Airlines has announced that it will resume Nairobi-Brussels flights beginning mid-2024
• Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the news on Wednesday, December 13
• According to Murkomen, the airline will be making six flights between Nairobi and Brussels six times a week

Michael Ollinga is a journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 10 years of experience covering courts and crimes, special reports, and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is happy to announce another milestone for Kenya's aviation industry amid a backlash over power outages at the country's major international airport.

Power outages at JKIA

Recent power outages at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) had been deemed demeaning to the country's aviation sector, with a section of Kenyan leaders and the electorate calling for the resignation of Murkomen over incompetence.

However, amidst this dark tunnel, there seems to be light as one of Europe's major airlines announced the resumption of direct flights to Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

According to Murkomen, Brussels Airlines will fly six times weekly between Kenya and Belgium beginning in mid-2024.

What is reputation of Kenya's aviation sector?

"We are delighted by the news of the resumption of direct flights between Brussels and Nairobi by Brussels Airlines, starting June 3, 2024. The Belgian airline will fly six times a week from Brussels to Nairobi in what is an expression of confidence in Kenya's aviation sector and business environment," Murkomen posted on his X account on Wednesday, December 13.

Murkomen viewed the development as a boost to the Kenyan aviation brand and an opportunity for job creation.

"This monumental step is set to create direct and indirect jobs for Kenya's aviation sector workforce, improve trade and investment, increase the number of tourist arrivals into the country, and boost Kenya's economy," the CS stated.

Nairobi-Brussels flights

The CS said that the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Kenya, Peter Maddens, and the Lufthansa Group General Manager for East Africa, Kevin Markette, made the confirmation.

The two had called on Murkomen's ministry headquarters in Nairobi on Wednesday, December 13, when he was in the company of Roads Principal Secretary Joseph Mbugua.

Earlier this year, President William Ruto visited Germany and Belgium to bolster bilateral relations with the two European nations.