A Nigerian family has issued a demand for $1 million in compensation from Kenya Airways over a disastrous Christmas trip that left their daughter stranded in Nairobi. Represented by Donald Ibebuike of Creed & Brooks Partners law firm, the family claims the airline caused emotional distress, significant financial losses, and major disruptions to their holiday plans.

In a letter dated December 21, 2024, addressed to the Managing Director of Kenya Airways Ltd in Lagos, the family outlined their grievances. They had purchased return tickets via Wakanow.com on August 31, 2024, for a trip to the United Kingdom to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

The family’s journey began on December 16, 2024, when they departed from Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. After Kenya Airways processed their documents and issued boarding passes, the family arrived at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. However, the airline allegedly refused to let their daughter, Gabriella Ikhianosimeh Akhanemeh, board the connecting flight to London, citing ‘clerical errors’ in her travel documents.

Despite her passport details being processed and approved in Lagos, the UK Border Agency flagged discrepancies in the passport numbers at the Nairobi airport. The family asserts that Kenya Airways should have rectified the issue, instead of leaving their minor child stranded.

This forced Mr. Akhanememeh Joseph Osikhena, the father, to abandon his journey and stay behind to attend to his daughter, while his wife and two other children continued their journey to London. In addition, the airline allegedly demanded over $4,000 for the father and daughter to return to Lagos, which the family’s lawyer described as “infamous and ill-conceived.”

The family is demanding that Kenya Airways either facilitate their journey to London or return them to Lagos at no extra cost, as well as pay $1 million in damages. The letter stated that legal action would be pursued if these demands were not met within seven days.

As of the publication of this report, Kenya Airways had not responded to the allegations.