KAA on spot for opening up key airports security installations to outsiders

Kenya Airports Authority faulted for allegedly breaching security protocols. (Photo: Courtesy)

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has been faulted for allegedly breaching security protocols while scrutinising a tender.

A section of concerned bidders, who attended a conference on November 8, 2017 that followed a pre-tender meeting held earlier, have questioned availing of classified security information at the key airports to the bidders without following the necessary protocols.

They said the same happened during the pre-tender meeting held at Moi International Airport on September 22, JKIA on September 25, and Wilson Airport on September 26, 2017 when bidders were allowed to inspect key security installations at the three airports.

KAA and its partners, who own the main airports and airstrips, are known to have invested a lot in recent years to safeguard the civil aviation sector against unlawful interference. “But it is surprising how such efforts can be breached over a tender,” one bidder who spoke on condition he is not named, said.

He said during the opening of the multi-million shilling tender for the supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of camera surveillance security system at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Moi International Airport and Wilson Airports, security protocols were breached.

“It shocked many of us to see KAA officials take bidders to key security installations at JKIA and Wilson without any vetting taking place,” he said.

He said during a bidders conference on November 8, 2017, access was allowed to classified information that include security plans without the bidders being ‘screened.’

He noted that given security concerns prevailing around the world in the aviation industry, such a thing should not have happened without due diligence taking place. “Who had ascertained that all the bidders were genuine business people only interested in the tender and not some people with ulterior motive?” he posed.

Disgruntled bidders

He said bidders were even given access to VIP restricted areas at both Wilson Airport and JKIA. The security expert said aviation security is a combination of material and human resources, and the handling of the said tender process was wanting.

“During the site visits in the context of the tender process, the bidders got information about security gaps as well as all vulnerabilities of the premises, methods and procedures at the mentioned airports,” he said.

He noted that the sharing of such information with potential contractors, should have necessitated the vetting of the bidders first as without any vetting or background checks, disgruntled bidders who got access to this highly sensitive information can use it for sabotage or other ulterior motive.

He said the security clearance of participants should have been a standard measure.

When KAA was contacted on the matter through their corporate affairs office, an official Angela Tilytei said tendering issues are only handled by the procurement office.  “If bidders have an issue then they should put it in writing and addressed to KAA. But as a public communication office we do not comment on anything procurement. It is a whole different procedure,” she added.

According to, Mr Mwenda Mbijiwe, a security and counter terrorism consultant, all high level security installations should not be accessed by people who have not been vetted.

Mr Mwenda said people being allowed to access restricted security areas and being provided with classified security information related to government contracts need to undergo security clearance and sign non-disclosure agreement documents.  “There must be a level of security clearance so as to know who can be trusted in accessing restricted security installations,” he said.

Mwenda said developments at KAA did not augur well for the country as JKIA was still undergoing security evaluations from the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) before the introduction of direct flights between the two countries.  “It is important that Kenya should be observing high security measures at this time when it is undergoing the FAA security evaluation,” he said.