 | | Transport Minister Hon. Kimunya follows carefully as he is taken through JKIA Master plan by the KAA MD Eng. Stephen Gichuki (right). With them are KCAA DG. Col.Kioko (right) and Transport PS Cyrus Njiru |
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kenya’s leading gateway hosted the Minister of Transport on a tour of its key facilities on Thursday the 1st of July 2010 on a working visit. He was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for Transport Dr. Cyrus Njiru and other senior officials from the ministry. At hand to receive the Minister was the Managing Director Kenya Airports Authority Eng. Stephen Gichuki, Director General Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Col. (Rtd) H. Kioko and the Managing Director of Kenya Airways Mr. Titus Nikuni.
The Permanent Secretary in his introductory remarks said that the purpose of the Ministers visit was to see how Air Transport can better facilitate Trade. As the Minister for both Trade and Transport, he was looking into strategies to further develop the symbiotic relationship between the two Ministries.
In his speech to the three organizations the minister said, “The importance of aviation to the economy cannot be gainsaid. An efficient and reliable aviation industry will facilitate commerce, as well as local and international travel. It is therefore incumbent upon the Kenya Airports and Kenya Civil Aviation Authorities to ensure that Kenya’s aviation facilities and services attain internationally required standards.”
In response to the Kenya Airports Authority’s Managing Directors presentation the Minister informed the organizations present that it was the mandate of the Ministry of Transport to develop strategies for the unilateral development of the transport sector. He called on the Kenya Airports Authority to work closely with the Kenya Railways to ensure a quick implementation of a railway system connecting the Airport to the rest of the grid.
The transport sector in Kenya encompasses a system comprising of road, rail, air and maritime transport. The sector is crucial in the promotion of socio-economic activities and development. An effective, efficient and reliable transport system is imperative for rapid and sustained development in terms of national, regional and international integration, trade facilitation, poverty reduction and improvement of the welfare of the Kenyan citizen.
Hon. Amos Kimunya inquired as to how the JKIA management was catering for the water crisis in Nairobi. The Airport Manager JKIA Eng. Simon Githaiga informed the minister that KAA has already sunk three boreholes and that a water treatment plant is to be developed by this financial year. Another three boreholes have been sunk across the runway and are in the process of being connected to the system. Future plans to harvest water, for recycling so as to minimize on the use of fresh water provided by the City Council are underway. Negotiations are also ongoing with the City Council to ensure a steady flow of water to the Airport. In reply the Permanent Secretary Dr. Cyrus Njiru suggested that additional water storage tanks be included in package three of the expansion project of JKIA, with a capacity to store water for one week
After a thorough tour of facilities, structures and services of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, to ascertain the level of infrastructural development, Hon. Kimuya gave his appreciation to the management of the Kenya Airports Authority and the Kenya Civil Aviation and said he was satisfied with work done so far. He said that it was due to the focused infrastructural development at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, that Kenya Airports Authority was able to comfortably manage the Volcanic Ash disaster that affected the Aviation Industry.
He went on to add that the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is likewise striving to ensure the development and sustainability of aviation safety oversight capability in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Authority is investing in new and modern communication, navigation and surveillance equipments. Kenya Airports Authority in tandem is improving the Instrument landing Systems from Category 1 to Category 2 by installing new runway lights systems among other equipments to aid air navigation.
In appreciating the contribution of Kenya Airways, to the development of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as a hub. He encouraged the two parastatals to support Kenya Airways in their endeavor to retain their “Pride of Africa” status, as the Government has a stake in the company.
Hon. Kimunya dwelt on the importance of infrastructural development in particular he noted that the current runway at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport registers nearly 80 per cent utilization during peak periods. Taking into account the rate at which the economy is growing, he emphasized the need to plan for a second runway and associated infrastructure facilities within the next 3 to 5 years. The Managing Director Kenya Airports Authority Eng. Stephen Gichuki assured the Minister that the second runway was already in the masterplan, and plans were underway to ensure that this would be done once the current expansion project of JKIA was complete.
Kenya Airports Authority has embarked on a major expansion and rehabilitation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This will be done in four phases. Phase 1 involved civil Infrastructure covering construction of passenger terminal apron and associated taxiways and access roads. This is complete and already in use. Phase 2 involves the construction of Terminal four, parking garage and associated services. The contractor is already on site. Phase 3 is the renovation of the ring and arrivals buildings and construction of airside pavements and upgrade of Instrument Landing System (ILS) from category 1 to category2 and infill the separation corridor. The final phase will involve the rehabilitation of the runway capacity. |
Local Time: 12:48 PM | GMT: 09:48 AM | May 17, 2012
