Reason JKIA had a blackout despite having backup generators

 

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport's (JKIA) nearly two-hour power outage has been linked to system faults by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).

The authority said that one of its generators failed to start in a statement posted on Friday night.

"Following a nationwide power blackout,one of the generators serving JKIA's T1A  and Parking Silo failed to start, resulting power outage in a section of the airport," KAA said.

However, power had been restored at JKIA when the state was released at 11:36 p.m.

"This has been rectified & all generators are now fully operational. Power has been restored to the affected areas," read the statement.

On Friday night, Kenyans reported widespread power failures, leaving passengers at JKIA trapped in the dark for at least two hours.

The main international airport in Kenya reportedly lost power at around 9.45 p.m. The power loss also had an impact on Nairobi, the Rift Valley, Mount Kenya, and Western Kenya.

At JKIA, operations like baggage handling and immigration were halted during the blackout.

The predicament compelled Kipchumba Murkomen, the transport cabinet secretary, to apologise for the JKIA power outage. Murkomen claimed that the incident had no justification.

"I am really sorry for what has happened at JKIA with the blackout. There is no excuse worth reporting and there is no reason why our airport is in darkness," he said.

The CS added that he would make a statement on Saturday on the power outage.   BY MPASHO NEWS