Airports agency names new boss

Correction below:

The managing director of the Kenya Airports Authority Stephen Gichuki was Thursday sent on leave pending retirement.

He will be replaced by the general manager responsible for marketing and business, Ms Lucy Mbugua, in an acting capacity.

Mr Gichuki’s contract expires in October but he has been sent home two months earlier.

The MD was one of the officials on the spot following the fire which destroyed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s international arrivals lounge last week.

The authority was accused of taking too long to respond to the fire, which witnesses claimed should not have caused the huge damage if officials acted earlier.

Sources say the board’s move could be informed by the need to enhance management of the local airports’ safety.

“The outgoing managing director, Stephen Gichuki, will proceed on his terminal leave in accordance with the State Corporations and Regulations provisions. 

The board has decided to follow due process in the recruitment of a new managing director and will advertise for the position,” said KAA chairman Mutuma Mugambi in a statement.

Mr Gichuki exits the authority at a time it is dealing with the effects of the JKIA fire tragedy that destroyed the entire arrivals terminal with airlines and other investors in air transport business incurring huge losses.

He has seen KAA through fights with controversial businessman Kamlesh Pattni over tenancy of the duty-free shops based in Kenyan airports.

KAA recently demolished duty-free shops and lounges belonging to Mr Pattni at JKIA after lease expiry.

In April, Mr Gichuki emerged the favourite of the airports’ regulator’s board after his performance was defended by Mr Mugambi in reaction to a directive by then Transport PS Karanja Kibicho requiring KAA to advertise for the position in preparation for the MD’s exit in October.

In a letter to the KAA board, Mr Kibicho argued that Mr Gichuki did not qualify for another term. The board had said it had no problem with his performance.

At a press conference Thursday, Transport Principal Secretary Nduva Muli defended the changes, saying they had nothing to do with the JKIA fire.

Meanwhile, UN experts arrived in the country yesterday to help rebuild the airport.

The team will assess “environmental impacts of the massive fire that engulfed the arrivals terminal,” said a statement by the UN.

Additional reporting by Fred Mukinda

Please allow us to clarify some information on behalf of KAA; that Michael Wamalwa’s contract as Deputy Managing Director expired on 07^th July 2013.