Terminal 1C at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport can as well be rebranded into Terminal 1 Sea! For this is what the terminal is turned into whenever there is a heavy downpour in Nairobi.
This week was no different as the JKIA leaking roofs at Terminal 1 B and 1C went full throttle in an embarrassing leakage that left the terminal inoperable.
Shockingly, this is not the first time that Terminal 1 ‘Sea’ is recording such shameful roof leakage. In fact, nowadays, it is no longer strange to spot jerrycans and containers situated to tap in leaking water in various spots across the terminal.
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A few months ago in November 2023, the terminal grabbed headlines when it spotted massive leakage which the current government blamed on the former government.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen claimed that former President Uhuru had neglected the aviation sector and that buildings in this sector were in dilapidated state.
“When we got into the office we found that the projects in the previous regime were substandard. When the renovation was done on Terminal 1C and E, it was in a hurry and temporary because there needed to be set up an in-field project which was costly. But we have spoken to the contractors to redo the job,” he said.
In the ongoing leakages, the Kenya Airports Authority has alleged that works on the leaking roofs started in the month of March, just a few weeks before the rains started.
This means that repair works at the airport began five months after the problem was highlighted publicly.
“Kenya Airports Authority commenced the exercise to address roof leakages at Terminals 1B and 1C of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and works commenced in March 2024 for a period of three months,” said KAA in a statement.
“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.”
As the leaking persists, a big question that has been bugging many Kenyans has been; Isn’t the government ashamed that the first impression foreigners get of Kenya is rain falling down on check in desks, staff and customers in what is supposed to be a world-class airport?
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