KAA Appoints Moses Wekesa as New CEO to Lead JKIA Modernisation
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Board has officially appointed Moses Wekesa as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, marking a major leadership change at the authority.
In a statement released on Tuesday, April 14, the board announced that Wekesa emerged as the top candidate after a thorough and highly competitive recruitment process.
According to KAA, the selection exercise was designed to identify a visionary and experienced leader who can successfully drive the authority’s long-term aviation growth plans and major infrastructure projects.
The board noted that Wekesa stood out as the preferred choice because of his strong leadership background and proven ability to handle large-scale development programmes.
It added that his appointment comes after a transparent process focused on finding the right person to guide KAA into its next phase of growth and transformation.
Wekesa now takes over the responsibility of overseeing the management, development, and expansion of Kenya’s airports and airstrips.
This includes the country’s main international gateway, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which remains the busiest and most strategic airport in the country.
His appointment comes at a particularly important time for the authority, as KAA prepares to begin a major modernisation and beautification project at JKIA expected to kick off in June.
The ambitious project is aimed at improving the airport’s appearance, passenger experience, and operational capacity so that it can compete with some of the leading airports across Africa.
KAA said Wekesa will play a central role in leading this transformation programme, which is expected to include expansion works, improved airport facilities, and infrastructure upgrades meant to position JKIA as one of the most modern aviation hubs on the continent.
The authority expressed confidence that his leadership will help accelerate this vision and deliver lasting improvements in Kenya’s aviation sector.
Before this appointment, Wekesa served as Business Development Director at KenGen, where he was instrumental in driving key corporate growth strategies and overseeing initiatives aimed at expanding the company’s business opportunities.
His role there gave him significant exposure to large infrastructure investments and strategic project execution.
KAA further highlighted that Wekesa brings with him wide international experience, having managed major high-impact projects in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.
This global exposure, combined with his expertise in the broader infrastructure sector, is expected to strengthen KAA’s efforts to modernise airport systems and improve aviation services in Kenya.
Academically, the new KAA chief is highly qualified.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (Applied Mechanics) from the University of Nairobi, and additional postgraduate qualifications in Finance, Appraisal, and Project Planning from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.
His educational background is expected to complement his technical and strategic leadership capabilities.
Wekesa’s appointment also brings an end to a long period of acting leadership at KAA.
The position became vacant after former substantive Managing Director Alex Gitari, who had been appointed in July 2021, had his contract terminated in August 2023.
His exit followed a series of power outages at JKIA that raised concerns about the airport’s operational reliability and prompted leadership changes at the authority.
Following Gitari’s departure, Henry Ogoye was appointed Acting Managing Director in August 2023 by then Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to ensure continuity in the running of the institution.
Later, in December 2024, Nicholas Bodo was named Acting Director General as KAA continued the search for a permanent chief executive while working to maintain stability in its daily operations.
Most recently, Mohamud Gedi served as Acting Managing Director until Wekesa’s appointment was confirmed.
When KAA advertised the CEO position on March 6, the authority made it clear that it was looking for a transformational leader who could align the organisation’s operations with changing market demands and the fast-evolving global aviation industry.
With Moses Wekesa now officially taking charge, attention will shift to how quickly he can implement reforms, oversee JKIA’s long-awaited facelift, and strengthen Kenya’s position as a leading aviation hub in Africa.
His leadership is expected to shape the future of the country’s airport infrastructure and set the pace for the next chapter of KAA’s growth.
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