Infrastructure
Workers Race to Complete Upgrade of JKIA Terminals
Chinese firm CJIC was awarded the contract mid last year.
A partial renovation of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is well underway as the airport manager, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), seeks to modernise the facility.
China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation (CJIC), which has been undertaking works on site since January, is now racing to finish the project as the 12-month completion deadline fast approaches.
The JKIA upgrade project involves the refurbishment of the airport’s departure halls to improve check-in, screening procedures, retail operations, and traveller lounge experience.
The project is expected to cost Sh963,541,535.
According to KAA, the renovation of Terminal 1B and IC is aimed at enhancing the traveller experience in the two terminals to match what is offered at Terminal 1A.
“The project will modernize Terminal 1B&C to improve check-in, security screening, retail operations and passenger lounge experience,” KAA said in a statement.
The project is now 60% complete.
Breaking the law
Shortly after concluding the tendering process last year, KAA was accused of breaking the law in awarding the contract to CJIC, which some bidders claim did not submit any bids.
In an application filed at the Procurement Administrative Review Board, Ms Flooring & Interior, which submitted a joint bid with other local firms, said the evaluation of the tender was not done in accordance with the law and the requirements of the tender documents.
The company said the tender record indicated that the entity that bid for the contract was named China Jiangxi International Economic at a sum of Sh963,541, 535 and not CJIC.
“Looking at the tender register, CJIC did not submit a bid. However, another entity China Jiangxi International Economic is indicated to have submitted,” the company said in the suit papers filed at the Board on July 16, 2020.
READ: State remains mum on the fate of JKIA runway project
The company maintained that the two entities were separate companies and that searches conducted yielded no information regarding the company that was awarded the contract.
“Its existence is in serious doubt thus necessitating the intervention of the Board to ascertain the true position and safeguard public interest and the interests of other bidders.”
The outcome of the petition was not shared with the public.
A total of 15 companies submitted their bids, with some of the lowest offers coming from China Civil Engineering and Construction Corp. (Sh975 million); Shaanxi Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering (Sh960 million); and China Wu Yi (Sh752 million).
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