Kipchumba Murkomen Fires KAA Boss Alex Gitari Following Power Outage At JKIA, Appoints New MD

• The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has a new managing director in an acting capacity after Kipchumba Murkomen's sanctioned changes
• Alex Gitari's contract as the agency's boss was terminated on grounds of supposed complacency following a blackout at the JKIA
• Murkomen appointed Henry Ogoye, KAA's head of corporate planning, as the acting managing director of the agency

Nairobi - Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has effected a raft of changes in the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) after a blackout at the country's august airport on Friday, August 25.

KAA, a government entity, owns and operates civilian airports and airstrips in the country.

Operations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were paralysed after the electricity outage, leaving travellers stranded.

KAA boss's contract terminated

Murkomen announced in a presser at the KAA headquarters the termination of the contract of the agency's managing director, Alex Gitari.

Henry Ogoye, KAA's head of corporate planning, was appointed by the CS in an acting capacity.

"Pursuant to the challenges facing the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), we have made changes in consultation with the board of directors. By mutual consent, the contract of Mr Alex Gitari, who has been the managing director of the KAA, has been terminated. In his place, Mr Henry Ogoye, the head of corporate planning, has been appointed as the acting managing director," said Murkomen.

Also to get the sack was Engineer Fred Odawa, the head of project and engineering, getting replaced by Engineer Samuel Mochache, still in an acting capacity.

Transfers of airports bosses

The CS further announced various transfers of officers managing the major airports in the country.

Abel Gogo, who was at the helm of the JKIA, was transferred to the Mombasa International Airport, his place being taken by Selina Gor, who had presided over the Kisumu International Airport.

Peter Wafula, who had headed the Mombasa airport, would take over Selina's place in Kisumu.

Murkomen stated that more changes would be undertaken in due course.

The CS extended his apologies to travellers at the airport following the Friday evening mishap.

He however explained that the power outage did not affect Terminal A1 christened "JKIA's jewel", and that no danger of any kind was posed.

"I wish to issue an unreserved apology to all travellers and airport users who were affected in one way or the other by the power disruption at JKIA.

For the avoidance of doubt, the incident though regrettable did not pose any danger to our incoming and outgoing flights and passengers," he said.

The government would, going forward, do everything essential to see to it that the incident recurs again in the future.

"In order to ensure that a similar incident is not replicated, it has been decided that the two generators that were procured more than two years ago be immediately commissioned,” said Mr Murkomen.

“I assure the country and the world that we have taken measures to enhance capacity of technical experts in the engineering department to ensure this incident does not recur," said Murkomen.

Government's apology after JKA power outage

Murkomen had earlier regretted the happenings at the airport affecting passengers on the move.

Promising to engage the JKIA's management, the CS said "there was no explanation as to why the country's busiest airport did not have a power backup."

"I am really sorry for what has happened at JKIA with the blackout. There is no excuse worth reporting, and there is no reason why our airport is in darkness. I will be announcing the decision we will make tomorrow 9am at JKIA after a meeting with the leadership of the airport. Once again, I am sorry," Murkomen said.