There is no vacuum at Kenya Airports Authority, Gov’t says

State House has downplayed a vacuum at the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) over the delayed take over by the newly appointed Managing Director Jonny Andersen.

State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu says the Norwegian will now take over from mid-November, which is 4 months after his appointment in July by the KAA board of Directors.

Speaking at State House Sunday, Esipisu said that the new Airports boss has already been granted with a Kenyan work permit.

“Mr Anderson had initially asked for six-month period to wind up his other engagements. He visited Nairobi last week for two days of discussions with the board of KAA, as part of his induction,” he said.

“The work permit for Mr Anderson has been grated and issued. He will take office in mid-November, the timing that is appropriate.

Andersen will take over from Yatich Kangogo who was sacked over graft claims.

Mr Kangugo — who had been acting MD from March before the board announced the appointment of Andersen in July—came in a distant sixth in the recruitment process scoring 63 percent.

He argued there had been excessive interference in the recruitment process, raising questions over the validity of the outcome.

“I have actually asked the chairman of the board to re-look into those results because personally myself I was not happy from how the interviews were being conducted,” Mr Kangungo said.

The recruitment process for the KAA MD has on three occasions been canceled with claims of intense lobbying and political interference.