Travellers Expose JKIA Over Rainwater Flooding

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) once again finds itself in the spotlight as travellers express their frustration with flooding incidents that occurred at the airport on Monday evening.

Boniface Mwangi, a human rights activist, has taken to his social media to share visual media exhibiting the stagnation of water on walking alleys and pavements. Mwangi criticizes the airport management for ill-preparedness ahead of the forecast by the Kenya Meteorological Department for heavy rainfall. Mwangi laments that JKIA now offers passengers the added 'excitement' of navigating through potholes, wading through waterways, and boarding flights drenched from heavy downpours.

"If you’re travelling tonight through JKIA, be prepared to get into your flight drenched. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is a masterclass airport, it offers steeplechase facilities. You will jump obstacles, waddle in water, and navigate potholes," he says.

Traveller Crystal Simeoni expresses similar sentiments and recounts how some passengers' luggage fell into the stagnant water, resulting in financial losses. She also questioned the airport officials about why passengers were exposed to the rain when air bridges were available for their disembarkation. Despite the ongoing heavy rains expected to persist until December, KAA and other high-ranking government officials have not yet addressed the issue of poor drainage, despite mounting pressure from Kenyans.

This lack of response comes in the wake of previous controversies surrounding JKIA, such as the imposition of taxes on passenger goods and the nationwide blackout that disrupted airport operations for almost two hours. As a result of the blackout, former KAA Managing Director Alex Gitari and other senior officials were dismissed due to their failure to ensure that the backup generator was functioning properly.