Airport authorities in Kenya have come under intense public backlash over a Christmas tree erected at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Described as laughable, the tree was mounted in one of the lawns at the airport to mark the festive period. Not only are Kenyans unimpressed with the Christmas tree, social media users have also called it “embarrassing”, as the J.K.I.A is one of the busiest and biggest in East Africa.
A host of Twitter users have also alleged that the cash allocation for the tree has been misappropriated in the light of recent corruption cases in the country.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the largest in East Africa and serves about 11 million passengers annually.
See social media reactions below:
For an international airport, @KenyaAirports you can do better. @ke_aviation @AvirtualVoyager @kenyanaviator pic.twitter.com/iJ61t2y1Gz
— Duke of Gatanga (@dnkariuki) December 17, 2019
But you may be surprised at the amount spent for that “tree”, probably we could have had a tree the size of KICC, lazima watu wamange
— (Daniel 3:17) (@jamakiauto) December 17, 2019
For an international airport such as @JKIA you can do better than this! This looks like a pine tree in a desert? This is not the standard we expect from you. @KenyaAirports pic.twitter.com/kyx0YmyaCv
— House Of Mamai ? (@HouseOfMamai) December 17, 2019
A thing of ugly at JKIA.
— Francis Hook (@FrankHook) December 18, 2019
How to fix:
– shorten & widen tree and place on a 2-3 foot high podium/platform. Deals with the issue of visibility
– Podium will also protect the tree and “gifts” from muddy splashes when it rains (see the newly planted grass?) pic.twitter.com/tzFKqYceDz
JKIA should have been more creative with Christmas symbolism. A pine tree in the middle of what looks like a desert is rather lazy.
— KE Aviation (@ke_aviation) December 17, 2019
The size of the tree is equivalent to the total brain power running that Airport. Instead they should have done nothing and just Chrisnas pass. It’s not like it would not have happened were they not to put that miserable tree there. ???why make me cry and I cry easy? Why?
— Rhapsody in key of Black (@AndrewKabena) December 18, 2019
I am sure the tender for this was in “mirrions of money”
— A. N. Other (@fyatuka01) December 17, 2019
That is what they could afford to buy with the money left after facilitation fees had been deducted…
— John Ogola (@jjogola) December 18, 2019
Ridiculous!!!! It looks like a lost tree in the middle of the Kalahari. You might find KAA paid 800k for that tree…complete with landscaping
— ?✈ (@AvirtualVoyager) December 17, 2019
Fire the manager? Fire the whole samn management that approved the installation of that damn tree. Fire them all.
— Rhapsody in key of Black (@AndrewKabena) December 18, 2019
I am so embarrassed ?
— Dr. Fibian Nyorita, MBchB, MBA-HCM?? (@DrNyoritaSkin) December 17, 2019
???? shame KAA. Sad bit is, it must have been procured. Billions spent. Scandalous country ??
— Sarah? (@sarahambitious1) December 18, 2019
