A leaked IATA audit of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has revealed that infrastructure and safety deficiencies could jeopardise the airport’s certification and operations.
According to Kenya Insights, the audit conducted in partnership with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), identified a range of deficits, including poor runway conditions, an understaffed firefighting response team and systemic weaknesses within safety oversight departments.
The reports described the main runway as being in a state of disintegration, with rubber deposits marring the runway markings.
The airport’s firefighting personnel were revealed to be short of international standards by almost 50%, with only 77 staff. According to Kenya Insights, the audit recommended downgrading the airport’s rescue and firefighting category from nine to seven. This downgrade would prevent the airport from being able to accommodate large aircraft such as B777s, B787s and A350s.
KAA Acting MD, Mohamud Gedi, told Kenya Insights that it had already addressed the majority of the audit findings, claiming that its maintenance contracts now covered the runway and that it had recruited an additional 75 firefighters in June. Additionally, KAA said it had secured funding for a runway resurfacing project.
