CONSTRUCTION on the controversial plot in Wilson Airport has been halted, as it emerged that two businessmen are behind the company linked to the project, a hangar.
The two, Kaushik Liladhar Manek and Jayesh Dhirajlal Manek, are the directors behind
Aerlink Limited, which the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) revealed have been authorised to put up the hangar.
The Wilson Airport manager, Colonel (Rtd) Richard Ngovi, and KAA's safety manager Fred Odawo told the Star the construction had been stopped as the owners had failed to indemnify KAA against operations that would negatively impact airport operations, especially the landing and takeoff of aircraft.
On Wednesday, KAA declined to name the two businessmen, only releasing the name of Aerlink Limited.
The Wilson Airport situation is reminiscent of the Lang’ata Road Primary School saga, where another company’s directors were accused of grabbing the playground.
In the case of Lang’ata Primary, Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu dilly-dallied before eventually naming four businessmen as directors of Airport View Estate Limited.
In registration papers filed by the law firm of Ochanda Onguru, based in Embassy House, Nairobi, Kaushik and Jayesh are equal partners in Aerlink, with 500 shares each.
Yesterday it emerged the company was registered on August 5, 2013, and officially acquired the controversial plot on March 3, 2014, after paying Sh40million to the previous owners, Kenol Kobil Petroleum Limited.
Kenol Kobil had bought the plot from Hozi Nemsi (K) Limited, who had been allocated the land in 1990.
Hozi Nemsi was wound up through a Kenya Gazette notice of August 13, 2008.
KAA officials took journalists on a tour of Wilson Airport yesterday, including the controversial plot – where a lone excavator was parked.
However, journalists were not allowed into the plot that is now fully fenced off.
There was no board to indicate who was doing the construction, the architects or even what the project was all about.
The airport manager confirmed that this was one of the reasons why the construction had been stopped.
The officials displayed certificates from the National Environmental Management Authority showing that the construction had received the body's approvals.
Odawo said KAA had received drawings from Aerlink and they had approved them.
However, the executive officer of the Kenya Association of Air Operators, Colonel (Rtd) E. Waithaka, whose plot neighbours the hangar construction, said they had not seen the drawings.
In a letter to the managing director of KAA, Lucy Mbugua, Waithaka notes that the construction "seems to be infringing on the airport’s no-obstacle area".
He noted that such infringement must not be allowed by air operators.
Waithaka however welcomed the construction of the hangar, as long as it followed the laid-down regulations at the airport.
