Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga was on Monday up in arms over inspection at Kenya airports which he described as being very intrusive.
Speaking on Monday during the commissioning of Mama Ngina drive in Mombasa, Raila stated that the officials conducting the checks put tourists in embarrassing situations by publicly showcasing their inner garments and bikinis.
"Kama watalii wanakuja humu Kenya. Huko kwa kiwanja bidhaa zao zinakaguliwa. Mtu anafungua sanduku yako anaona umenunua bidhaa ya familia yako (When tourists come to Kenya, their goods are inspected and found to have items bought for their families).
"Wanaona suruali ya watoto wako hata bikini ya bibi yako. Unambiwa ati fungua sanduku. Unaulizwa hii ni nini na umetoa wapi. Mara wapi yellow card? Hali ya mazingira ya ndege inafanya watu wasikuja hapa Kenya.
(They find children's innerwear and women's bikinis. They are told to open their suitcases and are asked where they got the items from. If it's not being asked for a yellow card, it's something else. The airport environment makes tourists avoid Kenya)," he stated.
He further stated that corruption was a huge obstacle to the promotion of tourism in the country.
The ODM leader called on authorities to act with haste in rectifying the situation in Kenyan airports to make them globally competitive.
"Hawa watu lazima waende pale Dubai waone vile vitu zinafanywa...mara toa kitu kidogo...unaingia kwa hoteli ndio hiyo kwa nightclub ndio hiyo (These people should go to Dubai and see how things are done instead of asking for bribes at the hotels and night clubs)," he added.
Raila further called for diversification in the transport sector to support the services offered by the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
"Tunalia hapa ya kuwa SGR imemaliza kazi hapa. Kazi ambayo SGR imemaliza tunaweza kujenga kupitia kibarani na kiwanja ya ndege. Tuko na mazingira mzuri ambayo tunafaa tutumie (We are crying that SGR finished its work here. But we can use that for plane paths. We have a good environment which we can use)," he stated.
