Kenya Airports Authority MD fired, Energy CS summoned over blackout

By Peter Ochieng

Alex Gitari is no longer the Managing Director, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).

Gitari exits KAA a day after the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was plunged into darkness for some time, following a nationwide power outage that hit several parts of the country on Friday night.

KAA in a statement said one of the generators at the country’s major airport failed to start, after the blackout, which Kenya Power linked to ‘system disturbance.’

“Jambo! Following a nationwide power blackout, one of the generators serving JKIA's terminal 1A and parking silo failed to start, resulting in a power outage in a section of the airport. This has been rectified & all generators are now fully operational. Power has been restored to the affected areas.”

Transport Secretary (CS) Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen’s first stop on Saturday morning was at the busy airport.

He announced that Gitari’s contract had been terminated, with Henry Ogoye taking over with immediate effect.

"By mutual consent, the contract of Mr Alex Gitari, who has been the managing director of Kenya Airports Authority, has been terminated. In his place, Henry Ogoye, who has been Head of Corporate Affairs, has been appointed as the Acting MD," he stated.

Ogoye was the man in charge of Corporate Planning at KAA.

Also dismissed is General Manager Project and Engineering Services, Fred Odawo.

The CS said the move should not be viewed as a witch-hunt.

He announced other high-ranking changes at KAA.

"Abel Gogo, the Airport Manager JKIA now moves to Mombasa International Airport. Selina Gor, the Airport Manager Kisumu International Airport will move to JKIA as the new manager," said Murkomen.

Peter Wafula, the Airport Manager Mombasa, moves to Kisumu International Airport. These changes take effect immediately. More changes will follow in the coming days."

Meanwhile, the National Assembly has requested Energy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Davis Chirchir and Kenya Power Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph Siror, to appear before the House's Committee on Energy on Thursday next week to address the nationwide power outage that occurred on Friday.

The Committee is chaired by Mwala Member of Parliament (MP) Vincent Musyoka.

Chirchir and Sigor are expected to issue a comprehensive account of the factors that led to the outage.