Govt to proceed with construction of Terminals 1A and 1E at JKIA Uhuru

Govt to proceed with construction of Terminals 1A and 1E at JKIA  Uhuru

President Uhuru Kenyatta has now announced the commissioning of the disputed construction of Terminals 1A and 1E by May 2016 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

While delivering his State of the Nation Address, Kenyatta said: “These new terminals will increase our passenger handling capacity by 5.1 million new passengers, bringing our total capacity at JKIA to 7.5 million passengers a year.”

This comes amid a looming legal showdown between the government and the contractor of the Greenfield Terminal after the cancellation of the contract.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) announced the cancellation of the Greenfield terminal project on Tuesday arguing the project was no longer economically viable.

The Greenfield project has been marred with controversy ever since it was conceptualized. Tendering and financing for the project were among the sticky points for the project. The National Treasury failed to allocate the project any funds in the estimates for the 2016/2017 financial year.

At the same time, the President said that new airport facilities were at various stages of completion in Homa Bay, Isiolo , Manda (Lamu County), Malindi (Kilifi County), Lokichogio (Turkana County), Suneka (Kisii County), Kakamega and Mandera among others.

The Head of State noted that the construction of the Port Reitz – Airport Road in Mombasa, as well as the planned Dongo Kundu by-pass will allow tourists to get from the mainland to the South Coast without spending a lot of time at the ferry.

On the Standard Gauge Railway, the President told Kenyans that the new railway will be completed and begin operation between Mombasa and Nairobi by June 2017 further noting that the project has employed thousands directly and indirectly.

Kenyatta intimated plans to extend the SGR to Naivasha, and eventually to the port of Kisumu, then the Border town of Malaba which he says is aimed at opening up the country to increased domestic and regional trade.

On roads, Kenyatta said that the Jubilee government had in the last three years tarmacked approximately 3,000 kilometres with rehabilitation of existing roads still underway.

“Road contractors are on the ground working night and day to complete a number of projects. In Marsabit: the road from Merrille River to Moyale. In Taita Taveta County: the road from Mwatate to Taveta. In Kilifi County: the Mariakani-Kaloleni-Kilifi road. In Migori County: the road from Kehancha to Suna to Masara. In Kajiado County: the road from Isinya to Ngong. And, in Nairobi County: the road from South C to Kikuyu town,” said the Head of State.

The President also announced the completion of two additional shipping berths at Kilindini which in turn doubled total handling capacity to 1.6 million twenty-foot containers per year.

“This, indeed, in three years, Mombasa has now moved to 4th  busiest port in Africa from 8th.”

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