NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera has criticised the ongoing disruption at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), revealing that he was among passengers stranded in Saudi Arabia after a scheduled flight to Nairobi was cancelled.
Nyakera raised concerns over the impact of the airport crisis on passengers and the wider Kenyan economy, calling for urgent intervention by the country’s leadership.
In a statement on Monday, August 31, Nyakera said his flight to Nairobi had been cancelled, leaving him and other travellers uncertain about when they would return home.
“I am currently stuck at the airport in Saudi Arabia after our flight to Nairobi last night was cancelled, with no idea when we will get home,” he said.
The former PS said the disruption at JKIA was having consequences beyond stranded passengers, affecting tourism, cargo and businesses that depend on reliable air connectivity.
“This JKIA mess is too costly for Kenya, with stranded tourists, delayed cargo, disrupted business operations and millions being lost by the hour,” he added.
Nyakera urged the country’s leadership to intervene and resolve the situation, stressing the strategic importance of JKIA to Kenya’s economy and international connectivity.
“JKIA is too important to our economy and the country’s leadership must step in and resolve this urgently,” he said.
KAA acknowledges flight delays
The concerns came a day after the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) acknowledged that some departing flights were experiencing delays at airports.
In a statement issued on Sunday, August 30, KAA said it was working with aviation agencies, airlines and other stakeholders to manage the disruption and minimise its impact on passengers.
“Kenya Airports Authority PLC wishes to advise passengers and other airport users that some departing flights are currently experiencing delays at our airports,” the authority said.
KAA said its teams were coordinating with relevant aviation stakeholders to facilitate the smooth flow of airport operations.
The authority advised passengers to contact their respective airlines for the latest information about their flights and to make appropriate travel arrangements.
“Passengers are advised to contact their respective Airlines for the latest information on their flight status and to plan their journeys accordingly,” KAA said.
The airport authority apologised to passengers and other airport users for the inconvenience caused by the delays and appealed for patience as efforts to address the disruption continued.
JKIA disruption raises economic concerns
The latest disruption has renewed concerns about the reliability of Kenya’s aviation sector and its potential impact on the economy.
JKIA is the country’s main international aviation gateway and plays a critical role in tourism, trade, cargo transportation and business travel.
Disruptions affecting flights can have a ripple effect across the economy, particularly when passengers miss connecting flights, tourists experience delays and time-sensitive cargo is held up.
The situation is also likely to put additional pressure on airlines and travel operators as they seek to manage stranded passengers and reschedule affected flights.
Nyakera’s experience has therefore highlighted the human and economic cost of the disruption, with calls growing for a lasting solution rather than temporary measures.
