KAA: Backup power supply at JKIA to be fixed in 30 days

Jomo Kenya International Airport (JKIA) is among the critical installations that were affected by the Saturday night power outage.

Key operations were affected with passengers being left stranded in the 8 pm outage which comes only two months after major plans including management changes were made to avert similar occurrences.

In a statement, Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) has, however, regretted the inconveniences caused as it outlined measures in place to alleviate the crisis.

“We appreciate your understanding and patience as we continue to improve our infrastructure for greater efficiency and reliability...KAA is committed to maintaining uninterrupted operations,” reads a statement.

According to the agency, the installation process of the backup power supply is currently ongoing.

“The synchronization of the outstanding backup power supply is scheduled to be completed in the next 30 days in readiness for instant backup support in the event of any power interruption,” it further reads.

During Saturday’s blackout, KAA said operations were disrupted for a few minutes before the backup generators were activated.

“JKIA experienced a disruption in power supply due to an outage from the national grid. The airport's backup generators were activated, with full restoration of power occurring within 8-20 minutes,” it states.

During the August 26 national power outage, key operations at the facility were affected for close to two hours.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen effected changes which saw some officials dismissed and replaced by Henry Ogoye in an acting capacity.

Murkomen further vowed to ensure that a similar incident is not replicated.

"I am really sorry for what has happened at JKIA with the blackout. There is no excuse worth reporting and there is no reason why our airport is in darkness," he said.

He added: "It has been decided that the two generators that were procured more than two years ago be commissioned".

When he appeared before the National Assembly’s Committee on Transport, Ogoye disclosed that KAA spent a total of Sh162 million to procure two 'dysfunctional' generators.

Failure to commission the standby generators was largely attributed to the crisis following the blackout.

KAA had argued that one of their generators failed to start.

"Following a nationwide power blackout, one of the generators serving JKIA's T1A and Parking Silo failed to start, resulting power outage in a section of the airport," it said.