Murkomen hints at sabotage as he calls on police to investigate frequent JKIA blackouts

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.[Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is now calling on the police to investigate possible acts of sabotage and coverup following constant power outages at the Jomo Kenyatta Internationa Airport (JKIA), the recent one being Sunday, December 11.

Through his official X platform, Murkomen hinted at possible sabotage after standby generators at the busy international airport failed to restore power immediately at terminals 1A and 1E.

"Considering the frequency of the power disruption, and taking into account the fact that JKIA is a facility of strategic national importance, we are making a formal request to the National Police Service to investigate possible acts of sabotage and coverup," he stated.

According to the CS, the standby generators were to ensure that power was immediately restored to every part of JKIA but failed to do so at the two busy terminals that handle international arrivers and departures.

Murkomen has pledged to clean up the mess at the airport calling on the Kenya Airports Authority board to help arrest the situation at JKIA that includes constant power outages and leaking roofs which he earlier blamed the previous government for shoddy jobs.

"In the meantime, the cleanup of the mess at JKIA continues. The KAA Board is under strict instructions to carry on with the reform agenda and the management to implement, as directed, the report of the technical committee which I recently constituted," Murkomen added.

Sunday's power outage occurred around 7:45 pm and caused a public outcry considering it is the third national blackout that has affected JKIA.

In a statement, Kenya Power said the outage was a result of a suspected fault affecting the power system.

"We are working to restore normalcy within the shortest time possible. An update on the restoration progress will be issued in due course," it stated.