Kenya Airways #ticker:KQ has rejected the requirement in a bill on the nationalisation of the airline that demands its chief executive officer must have a minimum of a master’s degree.
The national carrier has lobbied Parliament to amend the clause in the proposed law to a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.
The airline believes the requirement will narrow its talent pool as the airline struggles for a turnaround after six years of losses when the carrier has been led by four CEOs.
“The Bill should be amended to provide for a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree for qualification for appointment as a Chief Executive Officer with possession of a Master’s degree as an added advantage rather than a minimum qualification,” Allan Kilavuka, KQ’s chief executive said in a presentation to Parliament.
The Kenya Aviation Management, Bill 2020, sets the minimum requirement for those seeking the corner office at KQ, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the yet to be formed Kenya Aviation Investment Corporation to be at least a master’s degree from a university recognised in Kenya or its equivalent in a relevant field.
Mr Kilavuka, who was appointed Kenya Airways CEO in January, lists on his LinkedIn that he holds a post-graduate certificate in Psychology.
Kenya Airways has had four CEOs in six years, including Titus Naikuni who retired in December 2014, Mbuvi Ngunze who was replaced in June 2017 by Sebastian Mikosz.
Mr Mikosz resigned effective December.
Most firms listed on the Nairobi bourse have not placed a premium on post-graduate qualifications when hiring CEOs like State-owned companies that now boast a number chief executives with a PhD.
The National Assembly committee had recommended to MPs to delete the higher academic threshold set in the Bill before the Speaker ruled that the proposed law be subjected to public participation afresh.
The legal hitch look set to further delay the plan to nationalise the loss-making Kenya Airways as regional competitors seeking to carve out market share pour cash into their national carriers.“That clause 13 of the Bill be amended in paragraph (a) by deleting the word “master’s” and substituting therefor the word “Bachelor’s,” the committee said in a report on the consideration of the Bill.The committee justified the lowering of education qualification for the next KQ boss arguing that “common practice requires a bachelor’s degree, with possession of a master’s degree as an added advantage rather than a minimum qualification.”Lawmakers on September 9 stopped debate on the bill […]
