Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced the dismissal of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Managing Director Alex Gitari and General Engineering Manager Fred Odawo over a power blackout witnessed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Friday night.
Addressing journalists on Saturday, Murkomen said the contracts of Gitari and Odawo had been terminated “by mutual consent.”
The changes, Murkomen said, were necessitated by a series of mishaps occasioned by management challenges and political interference that had resulted in a "demoralised and disorganised workforce."
The CS announced the appointment of Henry Ogoye, currently serving as the Head of Corporate Planning, as the acting Managing Director of KAA.
Further, Eng. Samuel Mochache has been appointed to replace Odawo in an acting capacity.
In the new changes, JKIA airports manager Alex Gogo has been transferred to Moi International Airport, Mombasa, replacing Peter Wafula, who moves to Kisumu International Airport.
Selina Gor, the Airport Manager Kisumu International Airport, has been transferred to JKIA.
"These changes take effect immediately," Murkomen stated adding that more changes will follow in the coming days.
CS Murkomen announced the changes following a meeting with the KAA management and the board of directors.
Passengers were left stranded at the airport for at least two hours last night following a power outage reported in most parts of the country.
In a statement, KAA attributed the power outage to a system failure on one of the generators which failed to start.
"Following a nationwide power blackout,one of the generators serving JKIA's T1A and Parking Silo failed to start, resulting power outage in a section of the airport," KAA said.
Several processes including immigration and baggage handling were paralysed during the blackout.
The minister said the incident though regrettable did not pose any danger to incoming and outgoing flights and passengers.
"I wish to issue unreserved apology to all travellers and airport users who were affected in one way or the other by the power disruption at JKIA," he stated.
"...The backup generator lighting the runway and control tower was seamlessly deployed when the blackout occurred and at no time did we have an iota of darkness on the runway and the tower."
To avert similar incidents in the future, the CS said two generators that were procured more than two
years ago be immediately commissioned.
KAA staff attitude
He further directed the KAA Board to work on the staff attitude, mentorship and motivation to improve productivity.
"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," he noted.
The CS had earlier apologised to the affected passengers in a tweet shortly after the blackout was reported.
"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," he wrote.
