STATEMENT BY STATEHOUSE SPOKESPERSON ON JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FIRE
Following the fire incident at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, President Uhuru Kenyatta visited the scene this morning and was dismayed by the disruption and damage caused by the fire.
To the thousands of passengers, including tourists, whose journeys were disrupted, the President shares your concerns and regrets the inconvenience.
We are concerned that the incident interrupted travellers schedules and appreciate that they are being routed to their destinations as soon as is possible.
President Kenyatta wishes to inform all stakeholders and Kenyans that the fire has been contained. The cause of the fire is being investigated. There is no reason to speculate at this point.
There was no loss of life.
There has been serious disruption of the aviation operations at the airport. Contingency measures have been put in place to stabilise the situation and to return the airport to normal operations.
President Kenyatta wishes to reassure the entire aviation industry, investors, local and international travellers that everything is being done to resume normal operations.
We expect cargo and domestic services to resume from this airport this afternoon. They will operate from the Cargo terminal.
A time-frame for the resumption of international flights will be relayed later. However, the Kenya Civil Aviation has granted clearance for the use of Unit 3 for international departures and arrivals.
We want to guarantee the safety and security of all passengers, and that is our most important consideration at this time.
Help lines have been set up where those who wish to get further information.
Manoah Esipisu
Secretary Communication & State House Spokesperson
+254 732 819 160
One Response
I have witnessed this whole incident and i must congratulate the government, airlines, the civil aviation authority, and firefighters in the manner in which this tragic issue has been and continues to be managed. In addition, the passengers have been extremely patient and as i write this comment, some international flights have resumed.