Kenya Airways will soon start exporting fresh produce from Kisumu after a successful test run of the service on Tuesday. The flights which will be operating twice a week are expected to launch on January 8.
“Since the pandemic started, we were left with a capacity which we had to quickly think and be innovative and make sure that we are able to fly those aircrafts carrying cargo instead of passengers,” Kenya Airways Head of Quality Control Valentine Muruli said.
He said that the airline is ready to open up Kisumu for cargo and that it would ensure that the exports produce meet standard requirements.
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The test run was conducted in the presence of various officials including from the Kenya Revenue Authority, Ministry of Health, and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) amongst others.
“We are all here as the whole institutions of government to ensure that on the 8th, anything that will leave here will be quality assured,” Muruli said.
Also in attendance was the Chairman of Kisumu Lakefront Development Corporation (KLDC) Edward Ouko who said that farmers in the Lakeside region are ready to start exporting their products.
He urged the farmers to focus on the international market through the airport, as opposed to taking their produce to Nairobi for onward shipment.
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