Kenya Airports Authority speaks on poor state of JKIA infrastructure

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has announced plans to revamp infrastructure at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) amid concerns over the state of the international airport.

The airport has been in the news recently after embarrassing videos of leaking roofs went viral on social media.

There have also been concerns about the poor state of the drainage system at JKIA brought to the fore by the ongoing long rains.

Responding to concerns from members of the public and the political class, KAA Acting Managing Director Henry Ogoye blamed the mess on the previous government.

“Over the last 10 years, JKIA has suffered inadequate facility and infrastructure capacity upgrades to the extent that even temporary interventions became permanent solutions hence the current state of affairs in service disruptions,” Ogoye stated.

The KAA boss, however, assured the general public that efforts were ongoing to give the airport a facelift.

This includes expanding the passenger terminal, and runway capacity as well as provision of additional aircraft parking bays.

“The Government has commenced the process of addressing infrastructure development of the facility covering the expansion of the passenger terminal, runway capacity, and provision of additional aircraft parking bays beginning this financial year 2023/2024,” he added.

“The Board, Management, and Staff of Kenya Airports Authority are aligned with the concerns of the public and are implementing the Government’s civil aviation investment program to facilitate seamless, efficient, and effective service delivery.”

Leaking roof at JKIA

Yesterday, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the leaking roof at the airport was a result of poor workmanship by the contractor and engineers who were doing renovations at Terminal 1C and 1 E in the previous administration of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He noted that the renovation works at the airport were hurried and as such did not meet the required standards.

“At the start of President William Ruto’s administration last year, we found dilapidated infrastructure at our airports, and even though we have done our best to address the problem, some issues remain because of previous long-term neglect,” Murkomen stated.

Speaking in Kwale County, the CS said the contractor had been instructed to redo the work.

“The chickens have come home to roost. We have asked the contractor to redo the works at the temporary terminal, while the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) have been directed to sort out drainage issues,” he said.