A Kenyan influencer and businesswoman has accused Kenya Airways of discrimination after she was allegedly downgraded from business class to economy, while her seat was given to White passengers. The claim, shared through a viral social media video, has sparked a wider debate on airline overbooking practices and racial bias.
Influencer shares confrontation video
The influencer, Cashmeer Sayyid, posted a video on Instagram showing a heated exchange with Kenya Airways staff at the airport. In the clip, she stated that she had booked, paid for, and checked in for her business class seat well in advance, yet was made to wait for nearly 30 minutes without clarity before being informed of the downgrade.
Visibly upset, Sayyid questioned airline staff about who was occupying her assigned seats and demanded an immediate explanation or refund. She alleged that the airline had overbooked the flight and prioritised White passengers over local travellers.
Allegations of discrimination
In her social media posts, Sayyid accused the airline of unfair treatment, claiming her business class seat had been given away because she was Kenyan. She described Kenya Airways as the “worst airline” in an Instagram Story and said she refused both a refund and the option to take a later flight.
Her posts quickly gained traction online, with many users expressing anger and demanding accountability from the airline.
Airline issues clarification
Responding publicly in the comments section of her Instagram post, Kenya Airways acknowledged that Sayyid had been involuntarily downgraded but denied any racial discrimination. The airline explained that the flight had been operated using a different aircraft with fewer business class seats.
According to the airline, when such aircraft changes occur, an automated system selects passengers for downgrade based on ticketing criteria, not race, nationality, or skin colour. Kenya Airways added that it does not condone discrimination in any form and apologised for the distress caused.
Debate over airline practices
The incident has reignited discussions in Kenya around transparency in airline operations, customer rights, and the need for clearer communication when involuntary downgrades occur. While the airline’s clarification has addressed some concerns, many social media users continue to call for stricter consumer protection measures and more empathetic handling of passengers in such situations.