Passenger numbers increase three-fold after JKIA expansion, says Deputy President William Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto wants the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to develop a policy framework that supports the collaboration between the State, county governments and the private sector in addressing expansion of air transport.[PHOTO:FILE]

Kenya has increased air passenger capacity, following the ongoing expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Deputy President William Ruto said the flagship expansion at JKIA has led to a threefold growth, from 2.5 million to 7.5 million passengers annually.

However, Ruto said in spite of the infrastructural development, Africa and Kenya in particular, is yet to tap into the full potential of the aviation industry.

“The African aviation industry still lags behind the rest of the world. Nonetheless, demand for air transport has grown steadily over the last few years, with passenger numbers and freight traffic growing particularly quickly,” he said. “Africa is the third-fastest growing region in the world in terms of aviation traffic.”

Global hub

Ruto said the Government is expanding and modernising other facilities at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Kisumu International Airport, Malindi, and Lamu, among several other airports and airstrips across the country to make the country a regional and global aviation hub.

The move is aimed at increasing accessibility to air transport services and facilitating growth. “The aviation industry accounts for 10 per cent of our gross domestic product. In Africa, the industry supported more than seven million jobs in 2013. Indeed tourism, international trade and commerce cannot survive, let alone thrive, without the aviation sector.”

The deputy president directed the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to develop a policy framework that supports the collaboration between the national government, county governments and the private sector in addressing expansion of the air transport.

He was speaking yesterday at the Kenya Airways Pride Centre in Embakasi, Nairobi, where he officiated at the opening of a one-day workshop on growth and development of the aviation industry. The forum was attended by county governors led by the Council of Governors (CoG) Chairman Isaac Ruto,

Cabinet secretaries in charge of infrastructure related ministries and their principal secretaries, chief executives of state corporations and airline industry chiefs.

Security issues

Governor Ruto urged industry regulators and players to ensure that safety and security issues that affect the aviation industry are addressed through a multi-sectoral and inter-governmental approach. “As a nation, we must consistently adopt, implement and enforce internationally accepted safety standards and practices if we are to become a global aviation nation.”

He told the aviation industry to ensure a favourable return on investment is made by Kenyans in the sector, adding that local carriers must deliver quality service and offer attractive pricing that is competitive and sensitive to local circumstances. This, he noted will win the locals’ loyalty.

“We must ensure that all echelons of our society access the investment the Government is making in aviation by ensuring easy and affordable access to services,” he said. “Further, Kenyan carriers must also give the locals priority in employment and implement favourable terms for them in their procurement systems, as demanded by the “buy Kenya build Kenya policy”.

Ruto told the forum that county governments are willing to partner with the State to uplift the standard of airstrips across the country, some of which have been neglected and need upgrading. “We will like to be involved on how best to make air transport accessible and affordable to all cadre of Kenyans,” the CoG boss observed.