The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has fiercely dismissed claims by a Nairobi senator, Edwin Sifuna that there is a security lapse in Kisumu international airport, deeming the claims untrue and baseless.
The authority in a statement made on Monday assured the citizens that the airport is fully in line with national and international standards of aviation security. KAA indicated that it strictly follows the instructions provided by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and international aviation security systems in order to ensure passenger safety.
Sifuna had previously cited what he described as a lapse in vetting measures and general security infrastructures at the airport. The senator demanded immediate action, saying that these loopholes would open up the passengers and the employees to possible dangers.
Nevertheless, KAA argued that Kisumu International Airport has a multi-layered security system, which involves access control, surveillance, passenger screening, and continuous security audit. The authority stressed that security personnel hired there are professionally trained and work within the existing aviation security measures.
In part, the statement said that Kisumu International Airport satisfies the necessary minimum security levels and is inspected by the corresponding oversight bodies. KAA also encouraged the leaders and the general population to confirm any information with the relevant authorities before pronouncing anything publicly that may needlessly alarmed.
The upgraded international standard airport in 2011 is critical towards enhancing tourism, trade and connectivity in the region of western Kenya. It has domestic and restricted international flights that operate between Kisumu and the major destinations like Nairobi and other regional hubs.
The aviation stakeholders have not been left behind, and they have cautioned against making such statements that may tarnish the image of the aviation sector in the country without clear evidence. They added that security was a priority in Kenya in the aviation industry.
With the debate going on, KAA has reiterated that it will uphold the top levels of safety and security in all the airports that it manages and that the safety of the people will always be its top priority.
