KAA, duty free firm seek more time in suit

By Isaiah Lucheli

KENYA: Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Diplomatic Duty Free Limited (DDF) have sought more time to come up with a settlement in the court battle involving duty free shops.

KAA through lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi asked for more time to tie several loose ends when the matter came up in court yesterday and explained that the negotiations were progressing well.

Ahmednasir asked High Court judge Alfred Mabea to have the matter taken out in order to allow the parties to finalise the negotiations.

“We have made good progress towards a settlement. There are a few issues to be sorted out but meanwhile by consent, let us take out the matter today,” he said.

Last week, the court heard that the airports authority and duty free had entered into discussions and were expected to come up with an agreement over the shops by last Friday.

The two parties took an undertaking in court that the duty free shops would not be alienated to third parties. Mabea with the consent of the parties in the suit extended the order issued by Justice Jonathan Havelock issued on July 29, which barred KAA from repossessing the duty free shops.