I Don't Earn Sh8 Million Per Month, Kenya Airways CEO Sebastian Mikosz Says

Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sebastian Mikosz has refuted claims by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) that he earns Sh8 million per month.

In a statement to newsrooms, Mikosz has termed the claims as “groundless and unjustified.” 

The Polish national has stated that he takes home a monthly salary of Sh2.7 million, which is subject to a 29 percent income tax.

He has also dismissed claims that the national airline has 21 foreign consultants who take home a combined Sh70 million monthly.

He says he has taken legal action against those spreading the false information.

“The authors of this letter did not check the basic facts so as to mislead the public. I would like to assure you that I am not taking the efforts at misinformation and defamation lightly and I’ve already taken legal action against individuals and groups spreading the defamatory statements."

"Let the courts objectively assess the facts and pass judgment,” he says.

KAWU secretary-general Moss Ndiema was quoted challenging Mikosz to dispute the claims in court. He accused KQ bosses of financial wastage through payment of hefty salaries to expatriates. 

 “As of today, KQ employs 18 expatriates, including all secondments, out of the total number of more than 3,000 employees. This is approximately 0.6 percent of the entire KQ staff," Mikosz says in the statement, adding that of the 18 foreigners, five are KLM managers seconded to KQ.

“Although they work for KQ, they remain KLM employees. Their salaries and any other benefits are covered by KLM. This means that no one in KQ has access to that information. The amounts in the public domain are, therefore, purely fictitious and aimed at creating negative emotions in the working environment,” he notes.