Disruption At JKIA Over Leaking Roof Again [VIDEO]

UPDATE: The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has revealed that it has embarked on repairing the leaking roofs witnessed at JKIA's Terminal 1B and 1C in response to Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen's directive.

KAA revealed in a statement that works commenced in March 2024 for three (3) months.

"Over the last few days, the heavy rainfall in Nairobi has adversely impacted on the temporary drainage infrastructure put by the contractor on site, resulting in the current leakages being experienced at the terminal. This is being mitigated as works progress and the contractor has been instructed to complete the works on schedule," the statement read in part.

The authority apologized for the inconvenience caused by the leakages, adding that it "remains committed to upholding the highest standards of service."

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi is for the second time in five months on the spotlight over- wait for it- leaking roofs that have ground service operations to a halt.

Amidst the heavy rains experienced across the country, services on Friday, April 26 were brought to a standstill with litres of water pouring through the roofs and onto the terminal's interior, leaving check-in desks and luggage conveyor belts among others soaking wet.

The most affected of the international airport's buildings was Terminal 1C which is the departure terminal for international airlines that include Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Egypt Air, Rwandair, Lufthansa and Air Arabia.

Here is the video:

Operations at JKIA's Terminal 1C interrupted following roof leakage amidst heavy rains across the country#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/jobe8EJgok — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) April 26, 2024

CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo shared a video showing airport employees struggling to contain the water that was spilling excessively on the containers placed strategically on the terminal floor.

The employees who attended to passengers at the check-in desks left their stations, with seats strewn all over the place. 

Madowo went as far as dragging Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen into the mess that is now threatening to tarnish the reputation of one of the country's most important entry and exit points.

"Bro Kipchumba Murkomen, umeona (have you seen) JKIA pale (at) Terminal 1C?" he posed on X

Madowo has been on Murkomen's case ever since the latter criticised him for constantly calling out the torrid state of JKIA.

Murkomen appeared on Citizen TV on Monday, April 15 where he accused Madowo of double standards given that his international travels have suddenly made him realise the issues that have been affecting Kenya's main airport for years.

The CS believed that the renowned journalist was not as vocal against the current regime compared to previous regimes which have struggled to address the problems at JKIA, including a shade to protect arriving and departing passengers from the natural elements.

"I saw Larry taking videos at the airport. I was laughing because Larry was with us in the country for the last 50 years when that airport was like that.

"Suddenly because he lives in ‘majuu’ his eyes are open and realizes that there is no shade when you exit JKIA. It happens to all of us when we travel," he began.

However, Madowo responded by accusing the CS of gaslighting the JKIA issues and insisted that the Minister was misleading Kenyans, leading a relentless fact-checking expedition of the woes that have affected JKIA for years!

CS Murkomen on his part vowed that the airport will have a new terminal before the 2027 elections.

"It is not news that JKIA does not have a canopy for shielding passengers, it is a fact. I want to tell Kenyans that by the time we go to the next elections, we will have a new terminal at least complete or almost complete that will make JKIA a more competitive airport with facilities that are enviable and make us an aviation hub," he promised.