Excellent good news..........
Barack Obama offers support over Jomo Kenyatta International Airport fire
Updated Thursday, August 8th 2013 at 11:44 GMT +3
By Cyrus Ombati
Obama at the same time sent his condolences to families of those killed during the 1998 terrorist attack against the US Embassy in Nairobi.
While commemorating the 15th anniversary since the attack, Obama expressed his government's commitment to countering terrorism around the globe.
On Wednesday, operations were grounded at JKIA after a fire destroyed the arrivals terminals causing domestic and international flights to be cancelled. However local and some international flights have resumed.
Obama offers US support over JKIA fire
President Barack Obama has offered US support following a major fire that led to the closure of Kenya's main airport.
In a telephone call to President Kenyatta, the US leader restated his country's unwavering support to Kenya.
President Obama also condoled the families that lost their loved ones during the 1998 embassy bombing in Nairobi.
"The President also commemorated this day, the 15th anniversary of al-Qaeda's terrorist attack against the US Embassy in Nairobi, by expressing condolences to the loved ones of those killed and wounded in the attack, and highlighting our continued commitment to countering terrorism around the globe," a statement posted on the White House website said.
Regional leaders also offered their support to Kenya.
Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn telephoned President Kenyatta to offer support,
including the use of airports in their own countries while Kenya worked to normalise operations at JKIA.
President Kenyatta also received a call from the President of the African Development Bank Donald Kaberuka, as well as senior executives from the World Bank, who had immediate offers of financing the rehabilitation of the airport.
"We are encouraged by the support of the US President, my brothers the regional leaders, as well as major financial institutions who all want to see the regional air hub back on its feet quickly," President Kenyatta said.
"We are determined that normal operations resume at the airport quickly, and are glad to see that a partial reopening has already taken place, with successful domestic flight operations."
On Wednesday, the fire that started at dawn destroyed huge sections of the international arrivals terminal, including the area connecting to Units One and Two, as well as shops, banks, forex bureaux, travel agencies and airline offices.
Passengers who were caught up in the early morning incident were hurriedly evacuated, and some watched helplessly as their luggage was destroyed in the blaze.
President Kenyatta was showed around the ruins and later issued a statement through his spokesman Manoah Esipisu.
"The cause of fire is being investigated and at this point there's no reason to speculate. There was no loss of life. There was serious disruption of aviation operations at this airport. Contingency measures have been put in place to stabilise the situation and return airport to normal operations," the President said.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku said a team comprising police detectives and intelligence officers had been formed to carry out the investigations.
COMMENTS:
ThebullJ For Obama haters...he still loves Kenya....all these leaders expressed their encouragement and support....not because what the govt has done but for good representation Kenyans have made on behalf of their country wherever they are.
see more People's_Watchman "...Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Paul
Kagame of Rwanda, Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi and Ethiopia's Prime
Minister Hailemariam Desalegn telephoned President Kenyatta to offer
support, including the use of airports in their own countries while
Kenya worked to normalise operations at JKIA..."
see more Wambugu Mkenya The numerous support is extraordinary and encouraging especially from our regional leaders whose airport services we used and to Obama for his timely call This is not about China folks and we should stay on topic. We have not asked them for help and been denied. The comparisons just because a cheap Chinese phone call to Kenya has not been made is petty.
see more ben omari Kudos the superpower US datsthe best u can render
n God bless Kenya.
see more Mheshimiwa There is something wrong with us Kenyans. We always expect others to come sort out our own mess. The offer for help may not even be in good faith.. and here we are celebrating. Those "peculiar behaviors" someone talked about.
see more Obiri Thomas I believe that happened cause no fire extinguishers that can put off fire of that kind
of nature apart from tankers full of only water. In fact there should be a mechansim
and better emergence i.e fire fighters whom can be able to tackle fires caused by
corrossives, gas,and fuel which becomes hard to contain.
see more Sukuma Wiki The Daily Nation was very right. Here is what they wrote in their editorial just last month. "It is a disgrace of biblical proportions that the entire Nairobi County does not have a public fire engine in working condition," the paper wrote in an editorial last month. "When (government leaders) were debating their budgets, they did not deem it fit to set aside money either to buy new ones or repair the old ones. But they did set aside money to build mansions for governors, big vehicles for county executives and other needs without a direct benefit to Kenyans."
see more shybull007 stil waiting for help after the Embassy bombing. Super China don´t talk they, they are on the way.
see more mzale Offcourse you should all realise this help comes with strings. The big question we should ask is whats the catch before we get all sentimental. The truth is the West does not care about Africa unless the relationship is parasitic with the former doing all the sucking. We need to free ourselves off mental slavery otherwise we shall be beggars till kingdom come.
see more OlePasiany The story was so interesting until we got to the point of Ole Lenku talking about investigations, we expect nothing from any investigations here, as usual.
see more golditberg Eti support. Kuzima moto, na kujenga nyumba. Follow the Negligence. And the Cameras?
see more Maccos Cyrus kenya's friends from the East do
not support, they are waiting to be
awarded tender to reconstruct JKIA.
see more Gee Even a witch sends condolences! Hope this is in good faith.
see more cliff maybe the Chinese are eying for the repairing contract..sometime business is not business..we glad the west are not all gone
see more letting eliphas Kitambo Congress i-approve that money, Chinese will have done their part. Too late Mr. Obama
see more jeriksteel President Uhuru, please accept the offer. The fact planes could not be fueled the other day and now this should show the whole world how inefficient we have become. Maybe the US can help with educating kenyans on managing fires, especially at the airport. God forbid if a plane caught fire. This is a complete disgrace to our country and I cannot wait to hear who will loose their job over this. I am sure I will be waiting forever.
see more Kahura The best support would be a sign of sobriety in our expenditure by the government. Let's cut down on some of the extravagance e.g. VIP(leaders) motorcades and private jets, perks for retired leaders, salaries and allowances for legislators, etc. Let's purchase and refurbish such basic necessities like fire engines, water supply both for consumption and putting out fires, and methinks we don't need help from Obama or Jiang Yi-huah for these simple tasks.
see more rsvp5627 The "support" that Obama has pledged is not clear. Is it moral support?
see more Mshikadau2 That
is a brotherly gesture President Obama. It shows you truly care about
Kenya your ancestral land despite our leadership challenges. Kudos.
see more Dakitarijeff Shame on all those who who thought that president uhuru was written off by west. He has shown regional leadership that no one can ignore. They all know that he is a shooting star. He leads in counterterrorism and fighting impunity. US cannot let China rebuild an iconic airport in Africas heartland- Obama is smart like that. Kenya and US will always be friends and shame on those party mogers talking about how kenya is hated....by who?
see more The West Perhaps, just perhaps if your government spent its money on functioning fire-engines and not on Range Rovers for ministers, you would not need "the west" to come to your aid.
see more James kungu Obama called Uhuru n not the opposite but at the end of the day we need each other!
see more Sukuma Wiki Does the support come with gay conditions? If so Obama should concentrate with his gays made in America.
see more wacha za ovyo All you critics of the Chinese,where was the west when the Chinese came to open your eyes and updated you technologically and discovered lost of our economic potential growth via our natural resources. Wasn't the west the same who were suppressing your visions and goals lest you reason independently. The west knows too well that there are many ways of killing a cat. Where was the west when the Chinese introduced win win situation with China to the Africans; yaani nipe nikupe. Why would the west LAUNCH their WIN WIN WITH situation with THE WEST at KICC in 2009, ten years later. Was that the time they realized that Kenyans needed to benefit from their trade ties with the west???? Call the Chinese and they will come.
see more -
Kip kip wacha za ovyo You are mistaken if you think China is all "budy budy" with Africa, nations are entities without emotions, they form friendships/alliances on basis of self interests(in short International Relations Is a dog eat dog affair). China is another shark taking it's bite of what we have to offer and at the moment it's obviously outdoing the west when it comes to that.International Relations 101
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Carlos Mopis Interesting how worshippers of the West are delighted by a mere phone call. Is there concrete support that Obama has committed?
see more Paul what a loss. fix it mr president. Yes You can!....... natusonge mbele.
see more Andest This is a welcome move by president Obama. We need not look at very gesture with myopic political and cynical eyes.
see more benard Jose , sharpen your understanding of grammar, nothing wrong with the title,it doesn't mean he is to help in putting out the fire but rather help in the after effects and destructions caused by the fire.
see more jdagoo24 how are the forensic investigators... turning the stones when everybody including journalist were trodding all over when reporting til late last night... just like the helicopter clash at Ngong...nkt...
see more SunguraMjaja We are very sorry to see the gates to our beloved country (and a better part of our continent) being charred down. Every cloud has a silver lining though: operate from some makeshift structures for now as you prepare to build modern. Ensure that the new building(s) is/are fitted with safety features, which come standard these days (fire barrier, sprinkler system, smoke detectors, fire alarms etc). A large fire-water-reserve-tank with redundancy water pumping system should be included in the design. Build different wings to ensure continuation of business should a disaster hit. And lastly housekeeping should be made a priority. Why was there an infernal? What was fueling the blaze? Is it stuff that was not supposed to be in the airport in the first place? Other sectors should learn from this incident.
see more annymous only that, i thot alitoa $1billion to help reconstruct. anyway, we appreciate
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