Ogolla team submits report on airports

The 11-member technical committee appointed by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen a month ago submitted its report yesterday with recommendations to address the mess in major Kenyan airports.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Director Walter Ogolla-led multi-sectoral committee was tasked to investigate the status of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Moi International Airport and Wilson Airport.

At the time of the appointment, there was a hue and cry about the status of Kenya’s largest airport (JKIA) amid leaking roofs, periodic poor blackouts and taxation of personal items valued above Sh75000 belonging to travellers jetting in the country as returning residents or tourists.

Whereas the committee highlighted areas that must be repaired, the report stated that the government should plan and construct a new terminal building complete with associated facilities and services.

“Improve the terminal building facilities, including the replacement of the rusted and leaking roofs and ceilings at the Airports, overhaul of power backup systems, water reticulation systems among others,” the report reads in part.

It adds: “For the (current) Terminal building, install a new roof for the entire terminal building 1B, 1C and 1D, complete with rain harvesting facilities, solar energy and other associated services. Remodel, rehabilitate and renovate Terminals 1E and 2. Make good all defective works on terminals 1B and 1C and complete outstanding works. Fast track completion of ongoing works at State pavilion including repair of flat roofs, provide PWD (People with Disabilities) sanitary facilities to public toilets and necessary rehabilitation.”

Critical walkways

To enhance travellers’ experience, the Ogolla committee recommended the erecting of canopies on critical walkways, like the Primary Screening Yard (PSY), Toll station, VIP Parking and pickup and drop-off points. Additionally, the committee said the government should construct walkways on circulation areas starting from PSY and replace worn-out paving slabs adding that it should introduce angle parking instead of flash parking within main drop-off points in the airports as well as proper management of parking spaces to ease congestion and automating the payments for parking systems.

“Maintain the public address system in the terminals regularly and upgrade some old systems. Re-evaluate the air conditioning system in terminals 1A, 1E and 2 and consider changing the design to make them more efficient,” the report recommends exposing how crucial amenities at JKIA have been neglected for years.

To address the issue of blackouts at JKIA, the committee also urged KAA to commission the two new 2MVA standby generators for primary power back-up then provide a secondary backup generator to terminals 1A, 1E, and 2 and install a suitably sized UPS power backup for main power station.

The committee proposed the installation of the four-under-vehicle screening equipment at the PSY that have not been installed and increase the staff capacity at the PSY so that all the 12 equipped lanes are manned.

 It also advised that KAA focuses on crack sealing, pothole repairs, asphalt concrete overlay on the failed sections of the runway, ensures routine maintenance of pavement strips and airfield vegetation and plans to construct an extra vehicle parking and a cargo terminal.

According to the report, internal spaces should be reorganised to reduce redundancies and provide adequate sanitary facilities, efficient passenger processing and optimum ventilation and lighting. Police stations based in airports should be rehabilitated and expanded as well as animal holding stations

Eliminate leakages

In a bid to eliminate leakages at JKIA, the drainage at the rooftop of the parking silo should be renovated. Mombasa Road’s stormwater drainage must be re-routed to direct water away from the aircraft pavements, cargo area and underpass at Tower Avenue to eliminate flooding.

The committee also want cracked bays in the passenger and cargo aprons repaired while security emergence and access roads should be designed and rehabilitated.