KAA refutes reports of blackout at JKIA during power outage

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has dismissed reports of a blackout at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) during Friday night’s nationwide power outage, labelling the circulating social media claims as false and misleading.

KAA assured the public of its commitment to maintaining smooth operations, highlighting that the airport’s backup power systems and generators were promptly activated following the national grid failure. This swift response ensured that JKIA remained fully powered, with no disruption to services or flight operations.

“We want to assure the public that JKIA continues to operate smoothly, and passengers can expect uninterrupted services throughout their journey,” KAA stated. “The safety and security of our passengers are paramount, and we remain dedicated to upholding the highest operational standards.”

In contrast to a previous incident where power recovery at the airport took up to 30 minutes, Friday night’s response was immediate, allowing services at JKIA to continue seamlessly.

Kenya Power has since issued updates on the blackout, confirming that electricity has been restored to most regions. Power has returned to the entire Western region and parts of Central Rift, South Nyanza, and Nairobi, with ongoing efforts to restore electricity to the remaining areas. Initially, Kenya Power reported that the outage affected most parts of the country, except for the North Rift and sections of the Western region.