KAA addresses leaky roof at JKIA, cites infrastructure challenges
Days after a video clip of leaking roofs at the country’s main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), went viral, the airport’s management has broken its silence.
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) managing director Henry Ogoye said on Wednesday that the airport had suffered from inadequate upgrading of facilities and infrastructure capacity over the past 10 years and that plans to commence refurbishment works were in works and will begin in the current financial year.
“The Government has commenced the process of addressing infrastructure development of the facility covering expansion of passenger terminal, runway capacity and provision of additional aircraft parking bays beginning this financial year 2023/2024,” said Ogoye.
ALSO READ: Gachagua fingers Uhuru, defends Murkomen in JKIA mess
According to Ogoye, JKIA has suffered inadequate facility and infrastructure capacity upgrade in the last decade, to the extent even temporary interventions became permanent solutions and hence the current state of affairs in service disruptions.
The state of the regional aviation hub has been a subject of discussion following a series of blackouts that have disrupted its operations.
“Even temporary interventions became permanent solutions hence the current state of affairs in service disruptions,” he said.
On Wednesday, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused former president Uhuru Kenyatta of the infrastructural challenges at JKIA.
He said JKIA was renovated at a massive cost, but today it is a shame, public resources were used but when you go there, you feel sorry adding that it was a disgrace to the profession of engineering and architecture.
ALSO READ: Transport CS Murkomen blames Uhuru, Ruto for JKIA leaking roofs
His remarks came a day after CS blamed the former Jubilee government that was headed by Uhuru and his then deputy, William Ruto (now President of the Kenya Kwanza government) for the embarrassing leaking roof at the recently renovated international terminals 1C and 1E at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
CS Murkomen claimed the previous regime handled projects in which substandard works were done; but that contractors will return to the site to fix the mess.
The roof was falling apart and staff had placed baggage check containers on the floor to try and collect the water but it was an exercise in futility.
CS Murkomen also claimed the leaking roofs were a result of burst water pipes running in the ceiling in the terminal.
ALSO READ: Tourism CS Alfred Mutua reaches out to KRA chief in JKIA tourist drama