Transport and Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen now wants the police to investigate ‘possible sabotage and cover-up’ at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The CS said he has already made an official request to the National Police Service (NPS).
This comes after a nationwide blackout was reported yesterday evening with the main country’s airport still being affected by what Kenyans now term as ‘normal nationwide blackouts.’
The blackout which is one of its kind experienced in the last few months affected key facilities with the Kenya Airports Authority saying the backup generators failed to power up.
“Considering the frequency of the power disruption, and taking into account the fact that JKIA is a facility of strategic national importance, we are making a formal request to the National Police Service to investigate possible acts of sabotage and cover-up.” He said.
Murkomen insisted that the cleanup of the JKIA mess continues and that the KAA board is under strict instructions with the reform agenda and the management will implement the report of the technical committee that was recently constituted.
In their statement, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) apologized saying that only two of their terminals were affected by the blackout and that the other parts of the airport was in full operation.
The mess at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport opened the lid of the mess at the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).
The rampant power outages and leaking roofs led the Road and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to form an interim team that he tasked to identify immediate remedial measures to improve facilities and passenger comfort to improve the three big airports and airstrip.
The experience over the last few months raised questions about the status of our airport infrastructure facilities.
Kenyans took to the social media to express their displeasure over the casual manner the government is handling the power outage issues across the country and in key installations like JKIA terming it a national shame.
JKIA which is the country’s main airport and Kenya’s pride is the home of the national flag carrier Kenya Airways and others including Jambo Jet, Fly 540, and African Express but for a third time, it was affected by the blackouts paralyzing services at the section of the airport.
Since August this year, this is the third nationwide blackout that has been witnessed in three months.
On social media, Kenyans shared photos and videos of a ‘busy’ airport in darkness including the terminals.
Photos and video clips shared by Kenyans on social media depicted the busy airport in total darkness including in the terminals.
Kenyans were wondering who the transport CS would fire as he previously did during the first blackout.
“JKIA and country experience power #blackout again! Who should CS Murkomen now fire; engineers or himself?” Majimaji asked.
“JKIA has been affected by the nationwide blackout. It seems there are no standby backup generators at JKIA. This is happening for the third time now. As usual, we are waiting for Kipchumba Murkomen to go there, take pictures, and fire a junior staff for PR.” Alinur Mohammed posed.
During the first incident in August this year, Murkomen apologized to Kenyans saying similar incidents would not happen and even making changes at the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the management of the various airports in the country.
In his statement this morning, Murkomen has called on the police to investigate the JKIA blackout saying there could be possible cover-ups.
The CS said the cleanup of the mess at the airport is still on adding that the KAA board is under strict instructions on the reformation and implementation.
“Considering the frequency of the power disruption, and taking into account the fact that JKIA is a facility of strategic national importance, we are making a formal request to the National Police Service to investigate possible acts of sabotage and cover-up.” He said.
The state is expected through the ministry of energy to hold a media briefing on the nationwide power outage witnessed on Sunday evening.
