Transport Cabinet Secretary has terminated the contract of Alex Gitari, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Managing Director, after inspecting the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which suffered a power outage on Friday night.
Addressing the media after the visit, Murkomen announced that the contract of the MD was terminated by mutual consent. The decision was also reached after the CS held consultations with the KAA board.
Henry Ogoye will immediately replace Gitari but in an acting capacity.
"By mutual consent, the contract of Mr Alex Gitari, who has been the managing director of Kenya Airports Authority, has been terminated. In his place, Henry Ogoye, who has been Head of Corporate Affairs, has been appointed as the Acting MD," he stated.
The CS also fired Fred Odawo, General Manager Project and Engineering Services and appointed Samwel Mwochache in his place.
In other changes, Abel Gogo, who served as the airport manager of JKIA, was transferred to Mombasa Airport.
Selina Gor, Kisumu Airport manager, was transferred to JKIA to succeed Gogo with immediate effect. Peter Wafula, who held the portfolio of airport manager at Mombasa, was also transferred to Kisumu.
"Further; in order to ensure that a similar incident is not replicated, it has been decided that the two generators that were procured more than two years ago be immediately commissioned."
"I have further directed the Board to work on the staff attitude, mentorship and motivation to improve productivity," Murkomen announced.
Additionally, the CS indicated that the board would effect more changes in the coming days as they move to prevent similar challenges of power blackouts from recurring.
The changes come after the international airport experienced a two-hour power outage. While there was a nationwide blackout, the generators of the airport failed to come in handy, stalling the operations of the airport.
Other than the changes effected at KAA, Parliament also summoned Davis Chirchir, Energy Cabinet Secretary and Joseph Siror, Kenya Power Chief Executive Officer over the nationwide power outage.
The duo will appear National Assembly Committee on Energy with a detailed explanation of the causes of the outage.
