CNN Correspondent Larry Madowo and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen have been exchanging words on X about the current status of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The fiasco started when Murkomen appeared on Citizen TV's Monday Report, where he chastised the journalist for constantly exposing the airport's lousy situation rather than highlighting its positive aspects.
" I saw Larry taking videos at the airport. I was laughing because Larry was with us in the country for the last 50 years when that airport was like that. Suddenly because he lives in ‘majuu’ his eyes are open and realizes that there is no shade when you exit JKIA. It is not news that JKIA does not have a canopy for shielding passengers, it is a fact. I want to tell Kenyans that by the time we are going to the next elections, we will have a new terminal at least complete or almost complete that will make JKIA a more competitive airport with facilities that are enviable and make us an aviation hub," Murkomen said on Citizen TV.
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This elicited a response from Madowo, who proved the CS wrong by claiming that he had evidence that the airport was in poor condition before traveling overseas. He provided screenshots of his tweet from 2014.
Premium gaslighting, deflecting & trivializing the issues:
1. JKIA is 66 - 30yrs older than me
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) April 16, 2024
2. You don’t need a pre-election terminal to build canopies for the existing ones
3. I didn’t “suddenly” discover how bad JKIA is, I’ve complained about it for 10 yrs. Receipts thread👇🏾 https://t.co/g9OKTlxvAx
He also uploaded a screenshot of a tweet he posted in 2017 and 2018 complaining about how bad JKIA is.
I've complained incessantly about the exact spot in my video https://t.co/iCzgWCWKqY
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) April 16, 2024
Kenyans supported the journalist in the comment section, calling on the CS to learn to take criticism.
"The highest level of incompetence, CS, was trying to hide behind some trivial things to deflect from the real issue and, in the process, saying nothing of substance," one user said.
"@kipmurkomen is exhibiting a lack of PASSIONATE COMMITMENT as a public servant. Rather than facing challenges head-on, he chooses to shift responsibility. As a minister overseeing JKIA, have you conducted a thorough audit of the premises and infrastructure to identify critical gaps requiring immediate attention? It is unacceptable for passengers to be rained on or carry spotlights in fear of blackouts. Treat Larry like an ordinary commuter giving feedback. What else, imezembea huko? get serious !!" another user added.
