Kenya: Finally, Kisumu International Airport set for Global TakeOff
from Lee Makwiny
The third busiest airport in Kenya has seen a transformation from domestic to international standards, raising hopes it will spur regional economic growth and lower the historic poverty levels.
The airport’s apron has also been expanded, and a new terminus that can attend to up to 700 passengers per hour was built. The terminal has the ability to check in passengers for eight flights simultaneously.
Although the airport was intended to be completed in 22 months, construction works were delayed due to constant wrangles between the Kenya Airports Authority and members of the clan, who live in areas surrounding the airport.
The completion of the construction works at the airport sparks new hopes for investors in the western region, who are optimistic that the expansion and upgrading to international standards will boost the region’s economy by opening up new business opportunities.
Farmers and businessmen have started introducing new crops, products and investments in preparation for the commissioning of the airport and introduction of cargo flights.
Earlier this month, the authority unveiled a new raft of investment opportunities, which included provision of aviation fuel, ground handling services and the management of an automated car park.
“We are now focusing on enhancing new business opportunities and encouraging people to open up more,” KAA managing director Stephen Gichuki said during a stake holder’s business forum in the lake side city.
After commissioning, Kisumu International Airport will have large aircraft like the Boeing B737 and B767 landing safely.
The third busiest airport in the country has recorded steady growth in passenger numbers. In December last year, passenger numbers increased to 24,271 up from 16,989 in 2009.
The expansion which has lasted two years is expected to offer an estimated 30,000 jobs and boost bilateral trade.
Apart from the direct earning expected from businesses and employment, Nyanza Province and the whole of western region expects to receive a higher number of domestic and foreign tourists.
Locals also enjoy enhanced security while value for land adjacent to the facility has appreciated tremendously.
Several construction projects have also sprung up around the facility while numerous hotels have been built or are under construction within and around the lake side city.
Even nearby towns like Ahero are now feeling the growth ahead of the commissioning of the new facility which will greatly open up the region for serious business with the rest of the world. Fish, horticultural products will now be exported directly to Europe and other world markets.
During a visit to the facility earlier this month however, the PS Cyrus Njiru of the Ministry of Transport said that the facility will not hold cargo flights yet, but collaboration between several stake holders would speed up cargo handling facilities and the emergence of cargo flights.
“The second phase of the airport expansion will concentrate on handling cargo flights, being the biggest need of the area that requires economic growth and poverty eradication” Mr Njiru said.
“We can now proudly say that the airport expansion and upgrading has been successful despite the various challenges that the Ministry and the Kenya Airports Authority faced” Mr Njiru said.
The PS attributed the delay in completion to the need to meet international standards and expectations of travellers, now that the facility was being transformed.
“The government needed to deliver a fist class international airport and fit it in the class stipulated by Vision 2030,” Mr Njiru said.
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KENYA: KISUMU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NOW COMPLETE, OPERATIONS TO START END OF MAY.
BY Dickens Wasonga.
The 3 billion shillings Kisumu International Airport upgrading project whose construction attracted a lot of controversy three years ago when it was launched will now be officially operational by the end of May this year.
This follows the successful completion of the upgrading works carried out by the China Overseas Engineering Company COVEC, which won the tender in October 2008 to do the project funded by the government of Kenya and the World Bank. It was expected to last just 22 months.
Local MPs led by the transport minister Amos Kimunya tours the facility last year.
Giving highlights of the progress of the project so far to journalists in Kisumu the Airport manager Mr. Joseph Okumu said the project delayed by a few months after the initial works which included extension of the current runway by just a kilometer to two was changed to 3.3 kilometers by 45 meters wide.
Mr. Okumu said even the terminal building which was originally designed to have just the ground floor was modified to include mezzanine floor in order to accommodate more passengers and give room for additional commercial opportunities that will come with the new facility.
According to him, a lot of improvement works was undertaken alongside the main project. He gave the example of the improved navigation facilities which saw a state of the art -very high Omni directional Radio Range facility installed.
In order to fit into its new international status, the airport administration has been organizing a lot of training of the personnel at the facility.
Recently over ten of its crew drawn from the fire and rescue departments were taken through a course on diving skills.
Procedures have also been enhanced to meet set standards and the facility now have a marine rescue committee and not long ago it put to test its emergency procedures by holding an emergency drill where all the relevant agencies participated.
The manager added that all the airport staff have also undertaken a cause on safety and security awareness and were now better prepared to handle safety and security concerns of the passengers whose numbers are expected to rise soon.
The airport has a capacity to handle 3000,000 passengers per year at the moment but it will handle additional 2million passengers for a similar period upon upgrading.
When complete the new terminal will be handling both domestic and international passengers of an estimated 700 per hour.
Growth in number of passenger has been witnessed since the upgrading began at the airport and today it has daily flights to Mwanza and Entebbe together with an increased chartered operator flights.
Jet link, Fly 540 operating in conjunction with East Africa Safaris Express and national carrier Kenya Airways currently has scheduled fights.
The Jet Link plane during the launch of additional flights to Mwanza and Entebbe late last year.
‘’They have all increased their frequency with Jet link operating 6 flights daily, KQ 4 and Fly 540 doing 3’’ said Okumu.
Amongst other facilities the new terminal will have dedicated water and power supply system and a state of the art stand by generators.
Modern safety and security equipment, modern passenger processing facilities, business class lounges, and self service customer kiosks for departing clients will be available.
Aircraft hanger for maintenance of aircraft which was previously lacking will also be included and taxi operators and other motorists will now enjoy automated car park facilities.
Air craft such as Boeng 767 or Airbus 300 and 310 will now be able to land or take off at the upgraded facility.
There will be several business and rental opportunities which will be offered to interested business people in competitive tenders. The Kenya Airports Authority will soon advertise the opportunities to the public through the local dailies.
The opportunities will include ground handling cargo transit sheds, fuel firms, car park management, airport advertising and flying schools. Others will include duty free shops, restaurants amongst others.
A lot of jobs will therefore be created directly or indirectly to several jobless people not only in Kisumu but throughout the region.
The manager disclosed that more airport staff will be hired by KAA. Some will be absorbed to work as customer service personnel, safety and security staff, operational and maintenance staff, etc.
‘’We expect to have more airline staff, more taxi operators while parastatal and other government ministries or agencies such as KRA, immigration, KEBS will now have to post their teams here. Horticultural companies, additional health staff and medical personnel, more caterers and ground handling staff will be required’’ he added.
People have already reaping huge benefits from the airport project which initially faced a stiff opposition from the members of Kogony clan on whose land the upgrading work were to be done.
Many have since been compensated for the land acquired by the project and some now live in permanent houses constructed from the proceeds of the sale of land.
Locals also enjoy enhanced security while value for land adjacent to the facility has appreciated tremendously. Several construction projects have also sprung up around the facility while numerous hotels have been built or are under construction within and around the lake side city.
Even the sate light towns as far as Ahero are now feeling the growth ahead of the commissioning of the new facility which will greatly open up the region for serious business undertakings with the rest of the world. Fish, horticultural products will now be exported directly to Europe and other world markets.
Other beneficiaries are those currently residing in sprawling Kisumu slum areas of Bandani, Riat, Obunga and Otonglo which neighbor the airport which are currently under slum upgrading program.
A modern school is being established at Usoma. The modern primary school with a capacity of 500 pupils is near completion and was built at a cost of KSH 20 million from KAA. Its second phase will cost slightly more.
Access road is also under construction to link the airport and the Kisian junction and will help to rehabilitate the now dilapidated section between Kisian and Otonglo.
‘’This facility will be an added advantage in several fronts. It will be a major economic boost not only to the people around here but even into the national economy.
Tourism will get a boost as well as more international visitors land to sample the local culture and tour some of the numerous attraction sites within the western Kenya tourism circuit.’’ Said Okumu.
ENDS.
China & Canada: Even Kabuga could be walking around a free man
From: Eric Wabwaya Mburi
Canadian authorities were trying to determine on Friday how a man believed to be in his 20s was able to board a flight in Hong Kong to Vancouver having disguised himself as an elderly passenger
The young man, who was arrested when he arrived in Canada, boarded an Air Canada flight on October 29 wearing a realistic silicon head and neck mask that made him appear elderly, according to media reports and photographs.
A spokesman for Canada's public safety minister confirmed the incident but declined further comment. The man requested asylum in Canada when he arrived, which prevents officials from disclosing his name or where he is from. He is now being held in custody.
The man was able to board the flight apparently without a passport or any other documents with a picture or date of birth. He carried the boarding pass of a U.S. citizen who was booked on the flight.
Although the young man is of Asian origin, the intricate disguise made him look like a very elderly Caucasian.
"It is believed that the subject and the actual United States citizen passenger, whose date of birth is 1955, performed a boarding pass swap," according to a Canadian Border Services Agency security alert obtained by CNN.
An Air Canada spokesman said the issue was under investigation by Canadian authorities, but said there are multiple identification checks for passengers in Hong Kong - including one by the Chinese government.
Transport Canada is investigating if screening regulations were broken. It is the responsibility of airlines to verify the identity of passengers who appear to be 18 years or older before they are allowed on the aircraft.
"That means air carriers are supposed to look at a passenger's entire face to determine if they appear to be over 18 and if so, compare their physical appearance with their travel documents," said John Babcock, a spokesman for Transport Minister Chuck Strahl.
The man went into the airplane toilet midway through the flight and removed his disguise, according to the CBSA alert which noted the impostor did not attempt to disguise the age of his hands.
A search of the man's luggage uncovered gloves and a "disguise kit," according to the alert.
(Reporting Allan Dowd; editing by Rob Wilson)
Ja'kamburi
Uganda & Somolia: Museveni want Somalia to be declared no fly zone in order to curb the illegal supply of arms
Reports Leo Odera Omolo
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has called for a no-fly zone to be imposed over Somalia in a bid to curb the influx of arms and the terrorism activities in the war-torn country.
The President made the call yesterday during a closed-door meeting with the 15-nation team from the UN Security Council.
He proposed that the no-fly zone be enforced by the big powers which have aircraft carriers based in the Indian Ocean.
“If such a move is implemented, it will reduce the influx of arms in Somalia by over 70%,” Museveni reportedly told the delegation. The delegation was led by Uganda’s permanent representative to the UN Security Council, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.
Museveni also told the delegation that the countries that are willing and capable to send troops to the Horn of African county should be supported, and that those which cannot provide troops should fund the operation.
He reportedly told the meeting that the insurgencies fighting the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) are not Somalis but al Qaeda insurgents from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen.
At a press conference after the meeting, Museveni reiterated Uganda’s commitment to send more troops to Somalia.
Museveni (centre) with the security council team and Ugandan government officials at State House, Entebbe
He said it was the duty of the international community to help Somalia regain its sovereignty.
The President called for financial support to increase troop levels in the AMISOM. Uganda and Burundi are the only countries that have contributed troops to Somalia, with Uganda contributing the highest number.
“The number of troops is not the problem. If there is everything we need, we can raise the number but they (rich nations) must bring the money,” the President said.
The UN delegation, which was in Uganda for a one-day tour, was not specific on the kind of support it would give to AMISOM. The team later left for Sudan, where it will visit Juba, Darfur and then Khartoum.
Museveni warned the team against any delay in holding the referendum to determine the autonomy of Southern Sudan. He urged the UN to put in place the structures needed for a free and fair referendum in Sudan slated for January 2011.
“The referendum is very crucial and delaying it is highly risky. It is better to involve the UN in the organisation rather than waiting to see what happens after the results,” Museveni reportedly told the delegation.
He pointed out that the African Union did not support the International Criminal Court’s indictment of President Omar El Bashir because they thought it would jeopardise the peace process in Sudan.
Museveni also dismissed a recent UN report on DR Congo that accused Uganda of several human rights abuses and war crimes during the conflicts in the 1990s as a “concoction and lies.”
“These international groups are fictional writers. They should look for other subjects,” he said.
Museveni defended the army, saying it followed a strict code of conduct and could not torture civilians.
Ends
Uganda: New aviation office opened by EAC at Entebbe
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
As the East African Community (EAC) common market gains momentum, efforts are underway to enhance aviation security standards to boost the industry and trade in the region.
To this effect, the EAC Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) has established offices at the Entebbe International Airport to serve as a focal point for the five states in the regional trading bloc.
Kategaya (right) launches the regional aviation headquarters as Nasasira cheers David Ssempijja
CASSOA is a specialised agency that ensures the development of a safe and secure civil aviation industry in the region.
“Efforts geared towards meeting aviation safety and security will make our airports and airspace safer.
“This will attract more airline operators into the region, hence a booming regional aviation industry,” said the EAC affairs minister Eriya Kategya.
He was launching the regional headquarters at Entebbe last week. He said East Africa had a challenge of meeting the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
“As you are aware, our region’s airspace is at times regarded as insecure, especially by the western world,” he said. John Nasasira, the transport minister, and regional aviation chiefs attended the function.
Ends
MORE INTERNATIONAL FIRMS SCRAMBLE FOR SHARES IN THE AILING AIR TANZANIA CORPORATION, WITH A CHINESE COMPANY FROM HONG-KONG ALL SET TO TAKE THE LION’S SHARE
MORE INTERNATIONAL FIRMS INVITED TO BID ON AIR TANZANIA.
Business News By Leo Odera Omolo.
Tanzanian government is reported to be eying for more bidders for its financially strapped national carrier, Air Tanzania.
The government wants it revived so that it could take advantage of the fast growing air travels market in East, Central and Southern African regions, as well as take advantage of the exploding Chinese population in East and Central Africa.
The government has now decided to invite more international firms to vie for a stake in the ailing airline, despite having already entered the final stage of two-years negotiations with a Chinese firm, China Sonangol International Holdings, to buy a controlling stake in the ailing Air Tanzania Corporation Limited.
According to sources in Dar, the state owned national carrier last month cut its workforce by 155, amid talks of a partnership with China Sonangol. Only 182 employees remain on the job. It cited overstaffing and accumulated staff wages as the reasons for the layoffs.
The envisaged plan has been confirmed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Omar Chambo, in an interview published this week by the influential regional weekly, the EASFRICAN, in which he is quoted as having disclosed that talks between the government and the officials from China Sonangol International Holdings are at an “advanced stage”, without offering any further elaboration.
The PS further disclosed that the negotiations with the Chinese firm do not bar the government from looking for other investors, and that already, several other companies have shown interest in the carrier. However, he declined to name the other firms and their number, only saying this could jeopardize the discussions.
According to Chambo, the government of Tanzania wants to see Air Tanzania revived and brought back to take advantage of the fast growing markets like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, China and Malawi.
But observers and critics alike say the government has not kept its word on giving Air Tanzania full support, since the firm broke ranks and parted ways with the South African Airline {SAA} in 2006.
Air Tanzania Corporation Ltd, formerly known as Air Tanzania Corporation, was privatized on December 2, 2002, in a deal in which SAA acquired 49 per cent shares in the firm for USD 20 million, which largely went into shareholding, with the rest going into capital and training accounts.
And last week , a US firm, Celtic Capital Corporation of Texas, said it was ready to take over the operations of Air Tanzania.
Five firms based in the US, the UK and the United Emirates have also shown interest in running the cash-strapped airline.
According to other reports, in August 2008, the Tanzania government held secret discussions with the Chinese Development Bank to sell the 49 per cent shares acquired back from SAA to a Hong Kong based private firm, with a view to reviving the ailing airline.
In the deal, China Sonangol International Holdings was expected to fund the operations of the airline that is now struggling to regain its reputation and position in the regional and international market.
The EASTAFRICAN also quoted the chairman of Sonangol International, Sam Pal as saying that China Development Bank would be funding the takeover of Air Tanzania, but bureaucracy has delayed the takeover.
Mr Pal disclosed in the report that the Sonangol has already started the construction of Terminal Three of Julius Kambarage Nyerere international Airport in Dar Es Salaam, and is working on expansion of the airport.
Sonangol said it has already bought an Embarer fleet for Air Tanzania.
China Sonangol International Holdings Holdings Ltd, which was established in 2004, mainly engages in oil, gas and mineral investment and exploration, crude oil trading and large scale national reconstruction projects.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, the company also deals in chartered airlines in Angola, the US and the UK.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com,