Kenya Airports Authority criticized over Malindi Airport land row
The committee pressed the authority to explain its failure to reclaim land allocated for the airport's development.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is facing intense scrutiny over claims that vital land documents have gone missing, effectively stalling the planned expansion of Malindi Airport.
KAA officials were questioned by the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Tuesday, May 13, regarding the apparent irregular transfer of public land to private entities without proper authorization.
The committee pressed the authority to explain its failure to reclaim land allocated for the airport's development, which is currently occupied by a church and a jet fuel storage facility.
During the meeting, the legislators accused KAA of administrative failures for declining to explain how it could not account for the 100-acre land meant for the expansion of the coastal airport.
KAA’s acting CEO, Nicholas Bodo, maintained that the Authority possesses a valid title deed for the disputed land, even though it is currently occupied by a church and a jet fuel depot.
His remarks, however, drew criticism from lawmakers, who questioned how the Authority could assert ownership while the land is under the control of a private entity and a religious institution.
The MPs, pressing for transparency, accused KAA of misrepresenting the facts surrounding the land ownership, describing its stance as both misleading and disingenuous.
To resolve the issue, lawmakers insisted on reviewing the agreement between the jet fuel depot and the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to verify whether the two entities had indeed consented to the land lease arrangement.
However, when pressed to present the relevant documentation, KAA failed to provide critical records or explain the financial details of the concession, prompting harsh criticism from the parliamentary committee.
Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge questioned the integrity of KAA’s financial reporting, suggesting there may have been deliberate manipulation to obscure the true ownership of the land.
In response, the committee issued a firm order requiring KAA to submit the original 1996 title deed along with comprehensive information on its dealings with the jet fuel depot within 24 hours.
The lawmakers further cautioned KAA officials that persistent inaction on the matter would be seen as a sign of institutional failure.
