Outgoing Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) board chairperson Isaac Awuondo has formally exited.
Awuondo, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ally, handed over to the newly appointed chair and ex-Soy MP Caleb Kositany in a brief ceremony held at the KAA offices in Nairobi Wednesday.
President William Ruto revoked the appointment of Awuondo who has been in office since 2018 through a Gazzete notice dated March 15.
His (Kositany) three-year term took effect on March 17.
“We would like to express our gratitude to Awuondo for his leadership and commitment to the growth of KAA; at the same time, we welcome Kositany as the new chairman of the Board,” read a statement from the agency.
KAA is charged with the management of 16 airports including the JKIA and airstrips across the country, an industry contributing 5.1 per cent to Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP).
It is one of the top state corporations which takes a larger share of the country’s budgetary allocations yearly for its operations.
In the 2022-23 budget, it has been allocated Sh713 million for the construction and expansion of airports and airstrips.
Being at the helm of the agency, Kositany will be expected to help maintain and enhance the status of the airports mainly the JKIA in ensuring the open skies become a reality and the point of departure (LPD).
In a recent interview with local media, Kositany vowed to turn around the industry and boost efficiency at airports.