Transport CS nominee Chirchir taken to task over plans to revive Kenya Airways

The cabinet secretary nominee for Transport, Davis Chirchir, was on Friday put to task to explain to Kenyans if he had any plans to resuscitate the fortunes of Kenya Airways, the country's national carrier that has been dogged by a streak of losses.

Under the leadership of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, the vetting committee expressed concern over former Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen's (current Sports CS nominee) failure to fulfil previous promises to resuscitate the national carrier.

"I do see Kenya Airways running a system that needs support. I will sit down with the staff to identify the existing internal gaps first," said Chirchir.

The nominee agreed that the government's decision to pump Sh600 billion into the carrier to prevent it from collapsing was commendable but not sustainable.

"We need to look at what they're doing right and build on it. We also need to bring in a partner to build a network of supporting airlines to get Kenya Airways out of where it is," said Chirchir.

Not satisfied by Chirchir's response, Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wa probed Chirchir further, asking whether his promises are empty and similar to those of cabinet secretaries who have failed to stir change in the strategic docket.

"We have listened to such stories since I joined Parliament. Can you commit to the people of Kenya that you are capable of bringing about change?" posed Ichung'wa.

Ichung'wa also placed the former Energy Cabinet Secretary on the spot on how he will handle the alleged handover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) operations to Adani, an Indian group and a key airport operator.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. (Photo: Handout)

Chirchir explained that the matter of Adani, just like other government programmes with private developers not understood by Kenyans, needed to be subjected to public participation to help the Kenyans understand its benefits.

"We need to conduct public participation so that Kenyans can understand what we are doing. We should be doing public participation from inception," he said.

At one point, Wetang'ula urged Chirchir to answer the questions directly and avoid the lengthy lectures he was providing in his responses. Wetangula felt that Chirchir was deviating from giving short and concise answers.

The Kenya Airport Authority has already commented on the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport concession proposal.

In a statement by acting managing director Henry Ogoye on Wednesday, KAA confirmed that it received an investment proposal under the Public Private Partnerships Act 2021 from Adani Airport Holdings Limited.

KAA stated that Adani wishes to invest in a new passenger terminal building, a second runway, and refurbishment of the existing facilities at JKIA.

Ogoye said the proposal will be subjected to technical, financial, and legal reviews, alongside requisite due processes, in compliance with the PPP Act 2021.

"The project agreement will be preceded by stakeholder engagement, National Treasury approval, clearance by the Attorney General, and Cabinet approval," he said.

Ogoye explained that JKIA, which was built in 1978, is an ageing infrastructure and a threat to regional competitiveness.

He noted that the Cabinet approved the JKIA Medium-Term Investment Plan covering the upgrade of the passenger terminal building, runway, taxiway, and apron.