Kenya Airways employee suspended for filming plane

A Kenya Airways employee has been suspended for filming the arrival of a plane from China at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the capital, Nairobi.

The video was widely circulated across Kenya and sparked outrage over the government’s refusal to halt direct flights from China in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.

While many Kenyans are calling him a “whistleblower”, the national carrier has defended its decision to suspend Gire Ali, citing company policy.

Mr Ali shared the video on Thursday showing the China Southern Airlines plane carrying 239 passengers.

It was the first flight from China to arrive after a two-week ban imposed because of the outbreak.

Although the health ministry said all of the passengers on board had been cleared for travel, many Kenyans want the government to permanently suspend flights from China while the virus continues to spread.

On Friday, the Kenyan High Court ordered flights from China to be suspended for 10 days.