Private firm owns part of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

The chairman of the Public Investment Committee Mr Adan Keynan (second left), Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa and Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa (right) during an inspection tour of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport projects on July 21, 2014. PHOTO | GERALD ANDERSON

What you need to know:

  • KAA General Manager (Finance) John Ithumbi confirmed that NAS held the title deed for a portion of the land, but he said that he did not know how that happened.
  • The KAA General manager in charge of security, Eric Kiraithe, said he was in the dark regarding how NAS got the land.

Part of the land on which Jomo Kenyatta International Airport stands is owned by a private company.

A parliamentary committee that toured the airport on Monday heard that Nairobi Airport Services (NAS), a private catering firm that provides services for airlines at the JKIA hub, has a title for part of the land.

The matter came up when Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi, a member of the Public Investments Committee, asked the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) management about ownership of the land.

KAA General Manager (Finance) John Ithumbi confirmed that NAS held the title deed for a portion of the land, but he said that he did not know how that happened.

Asked who the owners of NAS are, Mr Ithumbi could not tell.

“We know that land at the airport was acquired by powerful individuals between 1990 and 2002,” PIC Chairman Adan Keynan said.

He asked KAA to prepare a report on the private companies that own land in the airport and explain how they acquired titles.

The KAA General manager in charge of security, Eric Kiraithe, said he was in the dark regarding how NAS got the land.

“That information is not within my purview,” he said.

“We will soon write a report to name and shame those involved in land grabbing at JKIA,” Mr Keynan said.

PULL UP SOCKS

Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita expressed worry over the adequacy of expansion plans at the airport.

He said Kenya needs to pull up its socks if it wants to remain competitive in the region.

Mr Keynan said that Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport was already ahead of JKIA in terms of the number of passengers it is able to handle.

He urged KAA to expedite its construction plans to ensure that Kenya does not lag behind.

Mr Wamunyinyi questioned the security standards at the airport, noting that a body was found on the runway last month.

“Was the person killed in the airport and dumped on the runway?’’ he posed.

“Could this be a case of someone killing a person elsewhere and sneaking the body into the airport?” the Kanduyi MP asked.

KAA was unable to give a comprehensive answer on the incident, saying it was still under investigation.

However, Mr Kiraithe said security had been improved in recent months.

“A consultancy firm has been hired to improve intruder detection. We have improved our surveillance and rapid response units to counter any threats,” Mr Kiraithe said.

He also said that he was unable to adequately elaborate the security systems currently operating at the airport at the forum as it was open to the media and it could jeopardize security at the airport.