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Larry Madowo, Murkomen in war of words over state of JKIA

Edward Chweya By Edward Chweya Published on: April 16, 2024 10:58 (EAT)
Larry Madowo, Murkomen in war of words over state of JKIA

A terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Photo/FILE

CNN Correspondent Larry Madowo and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Tuesday treated Kenyans to an online exchange over the state of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The exchange came after Murkomen appeared on Citizen TV's Monday Report, where he criticised the journalist for always exposing the poor state of the airport, instead of focusing on the positives as well.

" 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.

This triggered a reaction from Madowo, who went ahead to prove the CS wrong on comments that he had discovered the airport was in a bad state after going abroad.

Larry shared screenshots of the comments he made in 2014 about JKIA, where he complained of lack of proper security and its poor state whenever it rains.

Further, he shared another screengrab of a tweet he made in 2018, still complaining about how poor JKIA is. This was all to prove to Murkomen that he had not started complaining recently, especially after becoming a popular international journalist.

"This premium gaslighting, deflecting and trivializing the issue:

1. JKIA is 66 - almost 30 years older than me
2. You don’t need a new pre-election terminal to build canopies for the existing ones
3. I didn’t “suddenly” discover how bad it is, I’ve been complaining about JKIA for 10 years," Larry responded.

But Murkomen was still on the journalist's neck, saying that it is time Madowo also focuses on the positives, lest the world thinks he was rescued from a primitive society.

"The good news is that under this government we will sort out the airport as indicated in the post you have shared. But bro find out also something positive about your country and post it. You are underestimating the global voice you have and focusing only on the negatives. There are so many positive things happening and which have happened in the last 50 years. Even as you point out areas of improvement, be a drum major for positivity unless of course you want the world to assume that you were rescued from a primitive society," Murkomen hit back.

Kenyans also joined the two in sharing their views, with the majority asking the CS to take in the criticism and act accordingly.

JKIA has been in the news recently for all the bad reasons. From leaking roofs in waiting bays to persistent blackouts. The airport has captured the attention of the international community.

Murkomen and the Ruto administration have promised to work on the airport, but that is yet to be seen.

Now the CS says the airport will have a new terminus by the end of the first term of the current government or after the first term.

Tags:

Larry Madowo JKIA William Ruto CS Kipchumba Murkomen

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