President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday 28th October 2018, night presided over a historic milestone for Kenya's aviation sector when he flagged off the inaugural Kenya Airways (KQ) direct flight from Nairobi to New York.

The President flagged off a KQ Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 234 passengers from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport destined for New York's JFK International Airport.
Among the passengers on the maiden flight from Nairobi to New York were Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amb. Monica Juma and US Ambassador Robert Godec.

During the flagging off ceremony, President Kenyatta handed over the Kenyan flag to Amb. Juma while Amb. Godec was given the American flag by a US Embassy representative.

Others on board the direct flight were Transport Principal Secretary Esther Koimett and Kenya Airways CEO Sebastian Mikosz.

Also on the flight were two 26-year old innovators, Shirlene Nafula and Evans Wadongo who were handed their return tickets by State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena and Kenya Airways Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Events Jacquie Muhati at State House Nairobi on October 19.

The flagging off ceremony was also attended by Deputy President William Ruto, Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko, Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiang’i (Interior), Adan Mohamed (East African Community & Regional Development) Sicily Kariuki (Health), Margaret Kobia (Public Service), Amina Mohamed (Education), Rashid Echesa (Sports), Eugene Wamalwa (Devolution), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Agriculture) and Ukur Yattani (Labour).