KAA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Alex Gitari Netizens have pressured the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to respond to reports of an extensive power blackout which temporarily paralyzed all activities at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) last night.
From social media posts seen by this blog, enraged passengers protested the sudden darkness that hit the airport’s busy terminals at around 11 pm and lasted well past midnight.
To make matters worse, none of the staff could get backup generators running.
This led to a heavy commotion as frustrated commuters and confused airport workers struggled to contain the inconveniencing situation. @zowan254 Power Blackout At JKIA ♬ original sound - Zowan254 “It’s been 20 minutes and still no sign! I am not even sure if there is a generator! Poor children crying and staff helplessly going round with their torches,” she bemoaned on Twitter. “KAA, do something about this. This is a huge security risk at an international airport. We are verging on 1 hour without power while waiting to board,” another victim of the incident noted. KAA manages JKIA and the other nine aerodrome facilities in Kenya.
Some of their specific functions are construction, operation and maintaining aerodromes as well as providing other amenities or facilities for passengers.
This includes ensuring that airports and their staff are well equipped to quickly sort out occasional hiccups, like power blackouts.
But this is clearly not the case.