DECLINING TOURISM? Passenger Arrivals Drop At JKIA, Moi International – KNBS Reports
In September 2024, fewer tourists arrived at Kenya’s major airports. This is in line with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) most recent Leading Economic Indicator report, which was released on November 15.
The fall takes place in the midst of a continuing disagreement over airport administration, which is centered on the government’s ongoing difficulties with the Indian giant Adani Group.
“The total number of visitor arrivals at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Moi International Airport (MIA) fell from 175,113 in August 2024 to 144,996 in September 2024,” read part of the data from KNBS.
“MIA recorded a 22.5 per cent drop, decreasing from 19,822 to 15,371, while JKIA reported a 16.5 per cent decline, falling from 155,291 to 129,625 during the same period.”
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Adani Group Limited proposed to the government in March of this year to assume management and operations of the major airport for a period of thirty years.
The proposal, which included the required aviation policies, was accepted by the government three months later, allowing the Indian corporation to proceed with the JKIA takeover.
The overall number of passengers arriving at Moi International Airport (MIA) and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) decreased by as much as 30,117 from 175,113 in August to 144,996 in September, according to KNBS.
Adani promised in the plan to invest Ksh238 billion to upgrade and extend the JKIA airport over a 30-year period. However, the agreement caused a great degree of indignation among Kenyans and aviation workers, who protested.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHCR) filed a lawsuit on September 8 to contest the deal to lease JKIA to the Adani takeover, one of several cases that were filed in the High Court.
The lobby groups asked the court to halt the Public-Private Partnership agreement until the petition was considered and decided in their lawsuit.
Judge John Chigi of the High Court sent the case to CJ Koome, who will form a bench to hear it and render a decision on October 25.
Justice Chigiti claimed that because the case involved significant constitutional questions, it was unsuitable for a single judge to hear.
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The management of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) will be greatly troubled by the drop in numbers, given previous data from the KNBS for May and June indicated a notable rise in the numbers.
The number of Kenyans who arrived from other places across the world at that time is not included in the passenger arrival data of the two major airports.
Although only the JKIA and MIA serve as direct international arrivals, Kenya has additional important significant airports, such as Eldoret and Kisumu International Airports.
This implies that travelers from abroad who wish to go to other airports, including Kisumu, must first check in at the two main terminals.
DECLINING TOURISM? Passenger Arrivals Drop At JKIA, Moi International – KNBS Reports
