After a significant energy blackout left travellers at Nairobi’s main airport struggling in the dark, Kenya’s transport minister apologized to the nation.
The loss of energy was attributed to “a system disturbance leading to the loss of bulk power supply” by the electricity distribution business Kenya Power in a statement after lights went out in various areas of the nation at 9.45 pm on August 25.
Social media quickly became flooded with pictures of stranded travellers waiting in the dark at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). One of the backup generators at the facility, according to the airport’s operator, Kenya Airports Authority, also failed to start.
On social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen expressed his “sincere regrets” for what occurred at the JKIA due to the blackout.
“There is no justification for our airport’s darkness, and there is no excuse worth reporting,” he added.
It was unclear almost away how the airport’s absence of electricity, a crucial entry point for tourists and business travellers into the continent, affected flights.
Five hours after the issue started, Kenya Power announced that supply to the airport had been restored. More than 12 hours after the power outage began, many homes and businesses were still without electricity.
The airport is rarely affected by massive power outages in Kenya, even though there haven’t been any recent reports of this happening.
The head of Kenya’s airport authority, Alex Gitari, has now been sacked by the Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen, as the country firefights the latest crisis.
While Murkomen stated that political interference had resulted in a demoralised and disorganised workforce, the majority state-owned power company has failed to come up with a proper explanation on the row.
Tourism is a key part of Kenya’s economy, accounting for about 10% of GDP (as per the latest government data) and the latest episode has the potential to cast a shadow on the lucrative sector.
In addition to Mr Gitari, another senior civil aviation authority official has been sacked and the manager of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has now been demoted to a role at Mombasa’s main airport.
There have been chaotic scenes and long queues at the entrances to Kenya’s national parks too, after the digital payment system failed on the spot.