Martha Karua Accuses British Airways of Discrimination after Her Recent Trip from UK

Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua has filed a complaint to British Airways after she lost a suitcase during her recent trip from the UK to Nairobi.

Karua says the incident happened on October 26th, 2019 after one the airline’s officers checked in her bag, saying it was too large to fit in the cabin. 

"My journey started at Edinburgh Airport where I checked in one bag through to Nairobi and remained with a carry bag," said Karua in a complaint to British Airways.

"She [the airline officer] claimed that it was too large for the cabin. I did not resist. She issued me with a baggage tag promising to ensure that it was taken on board," Karua adds.

Upon landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Karua could not find her bag, which she says contained her toiletries and documents for a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia the next day.

"I had previously traveled with the said bag as hand luggage from Nairobi to Edinburgh in 2017 without any problems."

"I traveled to the meeting [in Addis] without my vital documents and necessities contained in my missing bag," she says.

Karua further claims she was discriminated against since other passengers who had bags of similar size as hers were allowed to board with them.

"The taking of my bag at the boarding gate by your staff was not only unjustified but also discriminatory and high handed."

"In any event, my said bag had fitted in the overhead cabin without any problem in the immediate previous flights outlined above. Additionally, the Nairobi bound flight was half empty. There was plenty of space for my bag as well as others.. my bag was not overweight."

The airline has not responded to Karua’s complaint.