President William Ruto’s administration is facing criticism over claims of sidelining Kenya Airways, with board chairman Michael Joseph raising alarm over what he described as persistent neglect by key government institutions.

In an interview with The Standard, Joseph said that despite recent financial progress, the national carrier is still struggling due to a lack of support from those in power.

He pointed out that Kenya Airways does not have the financial muscle to expand its routes or realise its full potential without active government backing.

“What disappoints me most and I say this fully aware it might not sit well with some is that the people who should recognize Kenya Airways’ value still don’t,” Joseph remarked.

“The Ministries of Transport, Finance, even stakeholders in tourism, they all fail to grasp just how vital the airline is to the nation.”

Joseph criticised both the government and parts of the media for viewing Kenya Airways purely as a commercial airline instead of a national strategic asset.

He warned that this perception is putting at risk a key driver of Kenya’s global business and transport ambitions.

“Kenya Airways isn’t just a commercial venture; it’s a strategic national asset. If we let it collapse, the blow won’t just be felt by shareholders it will hit the entire country,” he warned.

Joseph also blamed public officials for routinely ignoring the Fly Kenya Act, which requires government representatives to use the airline for official international travel.

He said many leaders avoid the policy by citing route or scheduling issues and instead fly with foreign carriers such as Emirates or Ethiopian Airlines.

“In the U.S., it’s unthinkable for officials to travel on non-American airlines,” he noted. “Why can’t we enforce the same principle here?”

He further revealed that the search for a strategic investor has stalled due to delays in government approval.

According to him, the lack of timely cooperation has dragged the process for over a year, which he said is not acceptable.

“We don’t need nationalization, we need real, actionable support from government. It’s been over a year waiting for approval to move forward with investment plans. That’s not how a country should treat its national carrier,” he stated.

Joseph warned that Kenya could lose its competitive edge in the region to countries like Rwanda, despite having clear advantages.

“With our location, climate, schools, and people, Kenya should naturally be the business capital of Africa,” he said.

“But if we lose our airline, we risk losing that opportunity just as we previously lost it to Dubai.”

He also took aim at the media, accusing journalists of reducing the airline’s narrative to profits and losses.

While he acknowledged some improvement in reporting, he called for more coverage that reflects Kenya Airways’ wider role in the country’s development.

“You in the media still mostly talk about Kenya Airways as just a business. Yes, we face challenges, but our role is much bigger. It’s time the media and the government saw that clearly and acted accordingly,” Joseph concluded.