Kenya Insights

Tag: KAA

  • KAA To Use Sh350 Million On Potholes Repair At Wilson Airport

    KAA To Use Sh350 Million On Potholes Repair At Wilson Airport

    Kenya Airports Authority has said that the repair of the potholes at the busiest airport in East and Central Africa—Wilson— will chop Sh350 million off coffers funds.

    “The immediate requirement for major rehabilitation at Wilson Airport is Sh350 million. This is what we require for now,” said Kenya Civil Aviation Authority director-general Gilbert Kibe.

    According to Kibe, major works on the project will start once local firms with planes exceeding seven tonnes operating at Wilson airport relocate to JKIA.

    The affected planes entail Dash8-300, Dash 8- 200, Dash 8-100, Fokker 50 and Bombardiers that account for a substantial part of the fleet used by locally.

    Local Air Operators, who has said that potholes were the reason behind recent faults and accidents, have faulted the KCAA’s move stating that JKIA is equally congested and has no space to build hangars nor carry out repairs.

    “The move does not make sense since JKIA is equally congested. Remember that it’s practically impossible at the moment to get space to build a hangar at JKIA. We foresee a situation where some airlines will fall out of business,” said an air operator in an earlier interview with the BD.

    Kibe did not give a specific timeline within which he expects work on the project to be finished while responding to the operator’s concerns.

    “It will be such that you operate from JKIA, but if the aircraft needs to be maintained you fly back to Wilson, go into the hangar and fix it then you come out of the hanger and fly out. It has a cost, yes but that’s the price of progress,” said Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) director-general Gilbert Kibe in an interview with the Business Daily.

    The laxity in enforcing safety at Willson Airport has been exposed by recent weekly airline mishaps and reported accidents—even though less fatal, but a real disaster in waiting.

    A few weeks ago, a SafariLink plane carrying 10 passengers veered off the runway after a tyre burst. This is the latest incident that led to the closure of the airport for almost an hour.

    In October, a Silverstone Air Fokker 50 jet skidded off the Wilson runway while taking off on a flight to Lamu. This happened a few days before another Silverstone Aeroplane lost a tyre after taking off from Lodwar Airstrip in Turkana County which poked holed in the potholes excuses extending the problem beyond Wilson.

    According to data, passenger traffic at Wilson Airport rose by 27.8 percent. In 2016, the airport received 413,146 passengers while in 2017 they recorded 528,000 passengers. Traffic to the airport increased to 53 percent making it Kenya’s second busiest airport.

     

  • KAA’s Chief Executive Officer Jonny Anderson Resigns

    KAA’s Chief Executive Officer Jonny Anderson Resigns

    Jonny Anderson the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) chief executive has announced that he will resign from his position at the parastatal on September 30 that is two months before the expiry of his term which was supposed to end in November this year.

    Mr. Anderson’s reign at the authority began in July 2016  and the much rather highly unexpected shock resignation brings to an end his tumultuous reign at the authority.

    Mr. Anderson told KAA workers in a memo seen by Kenya insights on Friday that he would quit his position in the next one month, because of personal reasons.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that I have taken the decision not to pursue the decision of renewing my contract with KAA. This is after deep reflection and consolation with my family. I will be proceeding on leave on September 30, with my tenure ending on November 21, 2019. I will take fond memories of the authority, colleagues, and the incredible journey with me in my heart,” Mr. Anderson said.

    KAA chairman Isaack Awuondo confirmed the exit in a separate memo to staff. He credited Anderson for strengthening airports operations for the period he has been at the helm of the organization.

    “Over the three years that Jonny has been at the helm of the authority he has strengthened airport operations and overseen a period of growth in passenger numbers and the number of airlines flying to Kenya,” said Mr Awuondo.

    Anderson joined the authority in July 2016 from Avinor AS in Norway where he was the national airports’ director. He replaced acting managing director Yatich Kangugo. Jonny Anderson’s appointment brought to an end a protracted recruitment process that was characterized by claims of political interference.

    Mr. Anderson was picked after trouncing five other candidates, including Mr. Kangugo. Interview score sheets show that Mr. Andersen scored 88 percent while Mr. Kangugo, who served as airport manager at Eldoret’s Moi International Airport, scored 63 points.

    He has had a rough path for the period he has been with the authority, for instance, last July, MPS gave him the last chance to provide documents justifying the cancellation of the Sh64.5 billion Greenfield terminal project at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

    National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee (PIC) warned the KAA management lead by Mr. Anderson that it would declare them hostile witnesses if all documents surrounding the procurement of a Chinese contractor were not tabled in Parliament on time.

    PIC chairman Abdulswamad Nassir said Parliament would have no other option than to direct investigative agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, to seize the documents from KAA.

  • Kenya Airports Authority To Auction Fifteen Aircraft Abandoned At Wilson Airstrip

    Kenya Airports Authority To Auction Fifteen Aircraft Abandoned At Wilson Airstrip

    Kenya Airports Authority has listed Fifteen aircraft abandoned at the Wilson Airport for an auction.

    The abandoned aircraft had been declared a safety risk by KAA over 3 years ago.

    KAA which heads operations, safety and security at all Kenyan airports issued a one month notice to claim the aircraft after which they will be auctioned to recovery the accumulated parking and landing fees.

    KAA has also demanded that the politician owners of the aircraft must pay all incidental costs including the Gazette publication.

    “The auction shall be defrayed against any incurred charges and the balance if any shall remain at the owner’s credit but should there be a shortfall, the owner shall be liable thereof ”  Reads a Kenya Gazette notice published by KAA

    One of the abandoned planes is owned by a former Presidential aspirant and the current proclaimed face of opposition.

    The abandoned Dutch model F27 with a wing span up-to 29 meters, is registered under 5X-FFD, which is a Ugandan registration number series. Local aircraft bare 5Y as their registration series.

    Also Read:Court Orders For The Auction Of Buzeki Enterprises Limited Company Assets

    Canadian owned Knight Aviation planes are also listed on the auction.

    They have abandoned 3 smaller models of HS 748, a medium-sized turboprop airliner, and Beechcraft Baron (BE200 and BE)90.

    Phoenix Air, IAP Group Australia and Superior Aviation companies are also among-st owners the abandoned aircraft.

    KAA officials speaking to investigators of this site did not disclose the fees and penalties owed by the abandoned airlines.

    Our Wilson Airport sources say most of the aircraft have been abandoned for more than a decade.

    The charges and arrears of those flights have an accumulated value of millions of shillings.

    KAA said will auction those who are in serviceable condition and sell others as scrap metal after parts.

    KAA is also said to be closely monitoring 100 helicopters packed in Kenya which only fly duty free during electioneering period.

    Politicians and Business-people has invested heavily in buying helicopters but can’t afford to foot them consistently.

    According to KAA figures seen by this writer, It costs up to Sh170,000 per hour to lease a light plane in Kenya.

    Parking and landing is also charged by KAA which makes Owning, operating and maintaining a helicopter an extremely expensive thing in Kenya.