Uncategorized Why Uhuru Briefly Shut Down Wilson Airport – Kenyans.co.ke
Update 16:06: Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) announced that activities at Wilson Airport are fully operational.
President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered all planes at Wilson Airport to be grounded on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
The directive was issued moments before the visiting Head of State from Hungary, János Áder used a passenger plane to travel outside Nairobi.
Sources at Wilson Airport told Kenyans.co.ke that President János Áder was to visit either Diani or Masai Mara, via the local flight but Uhuru ordered the Kenya Airforce to instead take over and fly Áder to his destination.
Passengers were directed to alight from their planes as the military assumed operations at the airport.
Travellers who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke complained after they were informed that their flights would be delayed to give time for President Áder to fly out.
“We were asked to alight from our planes as all flights were grounded. Most of us have been here since 10 am. Our plane was scheduled for the afternoon but we are now stuck and delayed. We are not yet sure on when operations will resume,” a passenger told Kenyans.co.ke.
The passenger added that Recce and Kenya Airforce heightened security at the airstrip.
President Áder is in the country for a four-day state visit.
The president accompanied by Hungarian First Lady Anita Herczegh were received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo.
President Áder held bilateral talks with President Kenyatta on Monday, January 17, and they inked a deal, that would see the two countries partner in the education sector.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) sent an advisory alerting travellers to expect longer processing times and passenger queues at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s departure Terminal 1A during peak hours of 8-11 pm.
This is due to the unavailability of JKIA’s Terminals 1B and 1C that are under refurbishment.
The delays are also caused by intensified health screening procedures instituted to combat the Covid-19 pandemic coupled with significant traffic growth.
