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Kenyan Transport Minister Apologizes for Blackout at Main Airport

© Photo Twitter / @kipmurkomenKenya's Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen during a press conference in Nairobi on August 26.
Kenya's Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen during a press conference in Nairobi on August 26.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 27.08.2023
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On Friday night, many parts of Kenya, including the capital Nairobi, were plunged into darkness due to a nationwide power outage. According to the country's power utility, Kenya Power, a system fault led to the loss of bulk power in various areas of the East African nation.
Kenya's Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen apologized on Saturday after a nationwide electricity power outage left passengers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi grappling in darkness.

"I wish to issue an unreserved apology to all travelers and airport users who were affected in one way or another by the power disruption," Murkomen said, reiterating: "I am really sorry for what has happened at JKIA with the blackout. There is no excuse worth reporting and there is no reason why our airport is in darkness."

The power went off in several parts of the country at 9:45 pm (18:45 GMT) on Friday, Kenya Power said in a statement, attributing the blackout to "a system disturbance." Local media shared footage from the JKIA with travelers huddling in the dark around the main terminal, some using cell phone flashlights.
According to the airport operator Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), one of its generators serving the main terminal and parking silo failed to start after the grid went off, causing a power outage in part of the airport. Later in the day, the operator said the situation had been rectified and power had been restored.

Kenya Power restored the energy supply to the airport five hours after the outage started, while many other areas of the country remained without electricity for more than 15 hours.

The minister also noted that generators for the air traffic control tower and the airport runway were functioning at all times, stressing that passengers and planes were not in danger due to the blackout.
Cabinet Secretary Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u and other officials of Kenya's National Treasury launch the budget preparation process for the FY 2024/25 and the medium-term.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 20.08.2023
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"In line with our vision to create a world class aviation hub in Kenya, we continue to refine our human resources and invest in better infrastructure to ensure that our Airports, especially the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, offers world class transport services. Today in consultation with the Board we made changes in the management of the Kenya Airports Authority," Murkomen said.

Following the incident, Murkomen visited KAA's offices at the JKIA. The operator's board decided to terminate the contract of Managing Director Alex Gitari and appoint Henry Ogoye as acting head. He added that KAA will move to expedite the commissioning of two generators that have already been procured to ensure that "the situation will not happen again."
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