From Daily Nation:

On February 15, 1977, East African Airways, the predecessor of Kenya Airways, folded its wings. And like bitterly divorcing marriage partners, its owners — Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania — plunged in a scramble for its assets, each hanging on to what was in its possession. Kenya Airways has its roots in the handful of planes that sat on the Embakasi Airport tarmac when the fall-out came.

The collapse of EAA was the final nail in the coffin of the East African Community, once the paragon of state sisterhood in the world.

The airline’s 5,000 workers were declared redundant, which meant the enforced start of another life and, as the Saturday Nation now reports, a tragedy that has lasted all these 36 years.

Some 3,000 of the 5,000 were Kenyans and they are still awaiting their terminal dues, which they have pursued from the moment they received their redundancy letters.

These include contributory provident fund scheme entitlements, payment in lieu of notice, 15 days pay for each completed month of service, outstanding and/or accumulated leave days and repatriation expenses.

In a petition set for hearing in the High Court on Friday, the workers whose number has been depleted because some have died along the way, have sued the Government and five entities of Barclays Bank for Sh306,367,840,391.23 plus interest calculated according to court rates since 1977.

The workers are suing as the Ex-East African Airways Staff Welfare Association, and have named nine respondents: the Attorney General, Barclays Bank International Limited, Barclays Bank Trust Company Limited, Barclaytrust Channel Island Limited, Barclaytrust International Limited, Barclays Bank Kenya Limited, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport and the Registrar-General.

Walker Kontos, the lawyers for the Barclays respondents, have filed as the correct descriptions of their clients thus: Barclays Bank plc, registered in England and Wales, Barclays Bank Trust Company, also an England and Wales company, Barclaytrust Channel Islands Limited and Barclays Private Bank and Trust Limited, also of Jersey. They have disputed the over Sh300 billion claim.

Written by By Roy Gachuhi | Read more at Daily Nation