Why MP Oscar Sudi, Briton and ex-Tanzania minister caused airport drama

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi was caught up in drama at the Wilson Airport on Wednesday together with his two friends – a wealthy Briton and a controversial former Tanzanian minister.

Reports indicate Mr Sudi caused a scene as he insisted on using the VIP lounge without his bags and those of British businessman Michael Spencer and former Tanzanian Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu being inspected.

The three had arrived at Wilson airport from Eldoret at 11am aboard an East African Air Charters aircraft registration 5Y-SRI, according to a passenger manifest obtained by the Nation.

The last time Mr Sudi had a similar fracas at the airport was in August last year when Turkish businessman Harun Aydin was arrested and deported. Mr Aydin, who was traveling from Uganda at that time, was part of Deputy President William Ruto’s entourage that was a few days earlier supposed to fly to Entebbe, only for the DP to be stopped from boarding their plane at Wilson.

Senior security officials at that time said that Dr Ruto failed to seek the President's clearance to travel as required by protocol.

Seeking asylum

In the latest saga, it is still not yet known what the two foreigners were doing in the company of Mr Sudi.

Mr Nyalandu, who was a minister during the Jakaya Kikwete administration, was in November 2020 blocked from entering Kenya by the Tanzanian government on suspicion that he was seeking asylum.

Mr Spencer is a British financial broker, politician and investor with vast business interests in hospitality, aviation, deep sea fishing and horse breeding.

The three had left Eldoret for Nairobi at 10am aboard a Pilatus PC-12 private jet belonging to Sirai Air but operated by East African Air Charters(EAAC).

The plane had flown from Nairobi to Eldoret on Tuesday afternoon and arrived at the airport at about 4pm, according to the company that owns it.

“Checking in at Eldoret International – a big, beautiful and empty airport,” wrote EAAC on its social media pages.

Airport guidelines

Mr Sudi held a press conference in Eldoret town together with Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago at about 9am on Wednesday. The two politicians, who had recently clashed, not only made up but also rallied their supporters to attend Dr Ruto’s rally on Saturday.

“As a cosmopolitan county and also William Ruto's home turf, we advocate peaceful campaigns ahead of UDA (United Democratic Alliance) party primaries and also this year's general election,” said the MP. He then boarded the plane to Nairobi.

Once in Nairobi, however, it is said that Mr Sudi refused to follow airport guidelines insisting that his entourage passes through the VIP lounge instead of using the domestic arrivals section like other passengers.

Officials at the airport stood their ground but the MP persisted, leading to a standoff that lasted dozens of minutes. Those in the know say Mr Sudi eventually agreed to go through normal arrival and screening procedures after realising that he was running late for the National Assembly special sitting on the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill.

Mr Sudi who has had several run-ins with the law has two pending cases in court. He was arrested in 2020 on claims of engaging in hate speech and offensive conduct after he hurled insults at the first family. He is also facing another charge of forging academic papers.

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