Kenya Airways boss Mbuvi Ngunze (centre) and a KQ staff member show
President Uhuru Kenyatta how to carry out the self-service check-in
during the commissioning of Terminal 2 at the JKIA on May 15, 2015.
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) officials have been interdicted following
last week's presidential directive. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
Six senior Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) officials have been interdicted following last week's presidential directive.
The
decision to interdict the six was reached late Tuesday, with KAA board
chairman David Kimaiyo saying they were sent home to pave way for
investigations.
The six include managing director Lucy
Mbugua, finance general manager John Thumbi, legal counsel Victor Arika
and procurement manager Lilian Okidi.
Others are airport engineer Christopher Warutere and head of examination Martin Kungu.
“The
chairman and Board of Directors of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA)
wishes to announce that following the presidential directive from His
Excellency Hon Uhuru Kenyatta on the Passenger Transfer Services (Apron
Bus services) at JKIA, the board met and deliberated on 19th May, 2015.
“The
following officers of the State corporation have been interdicted with
immediate effect for a period of three months to pave way for
investigations to be carried out,” Mr Kimaiyo said, listing their names.
LEASING OF BUSES
The
move to send the six home comes barely a week after President Uhuru
Kenyatta ordered the arrest of those involved in the leasing of the
five-ramp passenger buses at Sh10 million per month.
“This
is unsustainable. The people behind it will have to be arrested, taken
to court and made to return public funds,” President Kenyatta said last
Friday.
He added: “We must realise that we get these
jobs not to enrich ourselves but to ensure we deliver quality services
to the people who have given us the responsibility and the ability to do
these jobs.’’
An internal memo seen by Nation also asked staff members to cooperate with those who would be appointed to replace them.
“You
are requested to extend your usual support and co-operation to the
officers who have been appointed in the acting capacity to take up the
official responsibilities of the staff on interdiction,’’ read the
internal memo addressed to all staff and signed by acting managing
director Yatich Kangugo.
STILL ON SUSPENSION
Ms Mbugua becomes the first chief executive to be interdicted while still on suspension.
In
April, she was among Cabinet secretaries and head of parastatals who
were sent home to allow for investigations in the fight against
corruption.
It will also be her third suspension this
year, following a similar move by the board to suspend her in February
and four other managers over the controversial award of a tender to run
duty-free shops at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Dufry
International.
The five had been cleared by the board, just three days before the presidential directive.
The
buses whose tender approval was sought and granted in 2011 were
acquired through an open tender later awarded to Relief & Mission
Logistics at cost of $120,000 per month.
A notification letter was issued in May 2012 and a contract was signed in April 2014.
The
need for the special buses was heightened after the airport design
changed when remote stands were constructed following the August 2013
inferno. This meant that all international arrivals had to be bussed.
In
the arrangement, KAA would charge the airlines for the use of the buses
and any deficit between the collections and the amount payable to the
concessionaire was to be financed by the authority from the budget
provision of Sh75 million throughout the eight-year concession period.
Among
the six suspended, airport engineer Christopher Waruteere is the only
member of the tender committee that awarded the contract.
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