Kenya Airways has announced that its staff detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were released on Monday, citing a “misunderstanding” by the authorities.
The airline, which had suspended flights to the country, stated that it would resume operations following the “unconditional” release of the two employees.
According to Kenya Airways, the staff members were detained last month due to an alleged lack of customs documents related to valuable cargo. However, the airline maintains the innocence of its employees.
Allan Kilavuka, the airline’s managing director, explained that the cargo comprised banknotes from a Congolese bank intended for transport to the US. He clarified that Kenya Airways had not taken possession of the cargo when the employees were arrested. Nonetheless, the authorities seized the money and detained the staff.
Kilavuka described the incident as a “misunderstanding” by military intelligence officers and emphasized efforts to communicate that Kenya Airways was not responsible for the money.
Despite the lack of official comment from Congolese officials, Kenya Airways suspended flights due to the ongoing detention, citing challenges in supporting operations.
The airline expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of various parties in securing the release of its staff, including government officials and the embassy in Kinshasa. Flights are set to resume on Wednesday with the necessary ground support.
Kilavuka also announced plans to travel to Kinshasa to ensure the resolution of the matter.
