Thirty-three Kenyan and Ugandan Members of Parliament were stranded for four hours at the Moi International Airport on Sunday, following a booking error.

The annoyed politicians noisily confronted the Kenya Airways duty controller, Mr Philip Kandie, demanding a plane to take them to Nairobi.

The MPs were part of a 60-strong contingent which had gone to Mombasa last week for a series of football matches.

The Kenyan MPs persuaded their Ugandan counterparts to join them in a dramatic sit-in at the airport lounge until a plane was made available.

Moments later, Home Affairs, Heritage and Sports Minister Noah Katana Ngala accompanied by Office of the President Minister Marsden Madoka arrived at the airport and promptly blamed the confusion on the tour's organisers.

"The organisers should have made travel arrangements for the MPs to avoid this embarrassment," Mr Madoka said.

The MP for Ndaragwa, Mr Kamau Thirikwa (DP), asked: "Is it not amazing that 60 MPs who travelled on the same airline and were booked on the return flight can be put on a waiting list?"

Mr Thirikwa said that the MPs were supposed to fly to Nairobi on the 5pm flight but only 26 seats were available.

Kenya Airways airport staff had a hectic time deciding what to do with the stranded MPs, who had made it clear they would spend the night in the lounge.

They refused an offer that some of them take seats on the 9pm flight, saying they all had to be in Nairobi together.

Mr Kandie blamed the confusion on the fact that the MPs had not confirmed their flight to Nairobi.

At one point, the politicians demanded that the government send helicopters or a military plane to airlift them to Nairobi.

But Mr Madoka, a retired Army Major, ruled out the possibility, saying the situation did not warrant "such drastic measures".

The airline displaced other passengers on the 9pm flight to make room for the MPs – to the chagrin of those affected.

Mr Dan Munyori of Barclays Bank was one of the victims of the makeshift arrangement and was told that he had "checked in late''.

Among those who were affected by the confusion included Muhika Mutahi, Joshua Toro, Basil Mwakiringo, W. Osundwa, Wafula Wamunyinyi, Lawrence Sifuna, Fredrick Kalulu, D Khamase, J Munyes, J.Poghisio and Kamau Thirikwa.

The Ugandan counterparts included Chirstine Mwebesa, Yoramu Katwiremu, Haji Seppangi, Clement Kandole, Reagan Okumu, Robert Kakooza among others.