Kenya Airports Authority moves to install temporary arrivals terminal

By MACHARIA KAMAU

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has finally embarked on the process of setting up a temporary arrivals terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The new facility would replace the arrivals terminal burned that down early August.

The planned terminal, which will be imported in a readymade state, is expected to be in place in three months time and has a capacity of 2.5 million passengers per year.

KAA also plans to put two other temporary facilities — a bus terminal and a departure building. The authority has converted a recently constructed parking garage into temporary arrivals hall.

The airports authority yesterday called for contractors to bid for the three facilities, with the winning bid expected to be announced mid-November.

The Government of Kenya has already applied for financing from the International Development Association in various currencies towards the cost of the Kenya Transport Sector Support Project. 

“It is intended that part of the proceeds of the loan will be applied to eligible payments under the contract for plant design, supply and installation of international passenger emergency terminal facilities at JKIA,” said KAA in a public procurement notice yesterday.

Fast-track acquisition

The airport authority converted the recently built car garage into a temporary arrivals hall that saw operations at the airport normalise to a certain degree.

The garage is expected to serve as an arrivals hall in the months before the procurement and installation of the readymade terminal.

The Transport and Infrastructure Ministry has in the past said the temporary terminal has been in plans to ease congestion on the facilities at the airport.

“The temporary terminal has been in the plans we are just fast-tracking the acquisition” said Nduva Muli Principal Secretary Ministry of Transport said recently.