President William Ruto's administration encountered sustained pressure from the political class, the business community and even the international community following an eight-hour plane disruption at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday, April 17.
JKIA's single runway haunted Ruto's administration leading to losses estimated at millions of shillings triggered by flight delays and general aviation disruption.
According to a section of the affected travellers, a single runway at JKIA was detrimental to the country's aviation sector.
Led by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, the legislators implored President Ruto to construct a second runway to supplement the existing one in order to avert disruptions at the international airport.
Khalwale hinted at the revival of the Greenfield project, which was canceled by former President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration. It was a makeshift option that was touted to keep the airport operational despite disruptions.
"Waited for 8 hours for clearance of the JKIA runway after it was obstructed by a cargo plane. However, we safely arrived. We shall build the Greenfield terminal to pave the way to a second runway at our iconic regional hub," Khalwale wrote.
The Greenfield project was expected to cost Ksh55 billion but its rollout hit headwinds following its cancellation in 2016.
End 30 Years Wait
Besides Khalwale, other lawmakers asked President Ruto to end a 30-year wait by constructing a second runway.
Speaking on Tuesday, April 18, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka lamented that the push for expanding JKIA runways had dragged on for over 30 years.
He directed Kilifi North MP Owen Baya to reach out to the Head of State over JKIA single runway, which had exposed the international airport to delays and flight suspensions.
"Flight disruptions can sabotage our economy. We need to address this issue which we have been debating own for the last 30 years.
"JKIA needs a second runway. The land and space are available. Money appropriation is the only problem impeding the expansion of JKIA runways," Onyonka stated.
Baya seconded Onyonka's argument revealing that he was one of the affected passengers during the 8 hours of flight disruption.
Cargo Plane Derailed
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed that it had temporarily closed the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) runway due to an aborted takeoff by a cargo plane.
"Our top priority is the safety of all passengers and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to resolve this situation as quickly and safely as possible," the statement read in part.
After eight hours of wait, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced flight resumptions at JKIA.
The airport was designed and constructed in 1978 to serve about 2.5 million passengers annually. Over the years, its capacity exceeded to serve 6 million passengers annually.
The air traffic movement also increased tenfold over the years, making JKIA a hub serving planes in the East African region.
