Murkomen Forms 11-Member Committee To Investigate JKIA, 2 Airports

Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has announced the formation of an 11-member committee to investigate the mess at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi as well as two other airports.

The committee will be chaired by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Director Eng. Walter Ogolla and will comprise George Ngugi and Maj. Nepee Iltasayon, who are also directors at the State agency.

Other members include Martin Wamae (State Department for Public Works), Richard Cherop (KCAA), and Eng. Christine Nzai, Eng. Judith Kimeu (KAA), Eng. James Mbui (KAA), Architect Lawrence Mochama, attorney Sharon Asiyo and Eng. Fredrick Kabunge.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, Murkomen revealed that the committee will also probe the state of various Kenyan airports, with a specific focus on JKIA and Wilson Airport in Nairobi as well as Moi International Airport in Mombasa.

Leaking roofs at JKIA terminal in Nairobi. /X

“I have formed a technical committee to investigate the status of our airports in particular JKIA, Wilson Airport and Moi International Airport in Mombasa,” he stated.

“The terms of reference will be to access the state of infrastructures facilities, to access the state of electromechanical facilities, review the work in the last 2 years by contractors and to identify immediate remedial measures to be undertaken.”

The committee is expected to come up with an interim report within the next 14 days, and the final report within 28 days, with the CS further noting that the report would inform works and decisions to help the ministry forge the way forward.

Murkomen however warned that it would take up to three years to completely fix the mess at JKIA in a bid to modernise its look, following complaints over the leaking roof witnessed over the past weeks due to the heavy rains experienced in the country.

He underlined that the country's biggest airport is old and most of its infrastructures are in a dilapidated state, adding that the government needs time to undertake an entire overhaul, rubbishing critics who accused the government of slow progress in revamping the airport.

“As you have seen JKIA is ageing, it was commissioned in 1978 and is older than me. This infrastructure has not received adequate attention in terms of maintenance required,” he stated.

“I saw some people saying that Murkomen is lamenting and it is one year, he should have done this and that…Infrastructure issues in a country must be planned for a long period. We don’t want patching here and there…That is why one year is not enough to make a complete overhaul of infrastructure that has been left and dilapidated in this manner.”

The CS further noted that his ministry is working to put up a modern terminus and therefore permanently solve the issues, reiterating his criticism of the former regime for the shoddy renovations at JKIA.

He reassured the public that beginning in January 2024, through a Public Private Partnership, the government will initiate the construction of a modern terminus.

“It is the responsibility of all of us who have been in leadership in the past to be held into account for the neglect of this important facility. When I say this, it is not just about an individual as the focus is now on the President. In 2013, under Jubilee administration, we mooted a plan to build a new terminal which was supposed to be complete by 2016,” he noted.

“When I was appointed one year ago, I promised to deal with the case pending in court in Paris and in China. I can confirm that the Green Terminal space is free for us to advertise and we will advertise in January.”