NAIROBI: The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has heeded a presidential directive and cancelled the lease for the controversial Sh11 million-a-month transfer buses.
The lease had run from December last year, and was expected to remain in effect for seven years.
However, through a letter dated June 5 that recently came into Weekend Business’ possession, KAA Acting Managing Director Yatich Kangugo terminated the agreement at the heart of the suspension of several senior officials.
“You are hereby informed that the agreement is hereby terminated for convenience, necessity and public interest. The termination takes effect from the date thereof,” reads Mr Kangugo’s letter to the contractor, Relief & Mission Logistics.
The official communication relating to the termination came weeks after the five buses were grounded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ( JKIA).
KAA retired the buses a day after an angry President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered an investigation into the procurement of the airport shuttle buses.
“This is unsustainable. The people behind it will have to be arrested, taken to court and made to return public funds,” said the President.
Mr Kenyatta had gone to JKIA to officially open Terminal 2 on May 15, when he learnt of the lease.
Ms Lucy Mbugua, the then KAA managing director, was among six senior officials later interdicted for three months over the tender, pending investigations.
Company Chairman and former Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo announced the interdiction, saying the board had sent them on compulsory leave to enable investigations. KAA has not communicated the findings of the probe, or the progress on it.
