Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Managing Director Dr. Mohamud M. Gedi has reportedly been denied a U.S. visa, sparking speculation about his integrity and the state of Kenya’s aviation leadership.
The visa rejection, issued under Section 221(g) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, came just days before Dr. Gedi was due to travel for a high-level aviation security meeting with officials from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in Montreal.
According to diplomatic sources, the denial followed concerns linked to unverified allegations involving corruption, terrorism, and narcotics trafficking. Although Dr. Gedi has not been formally charged, his visa application was flagged for what U.S. authorities described as “additional administrative processing.”
The development has caused ripples in both Nairobi and Washington, particularly after revelations that 20 kilograms of cocaine trafficked through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were recently seized at Heathrow Airport in London. The incident reignited questions about the integrity of Kenya’s airport operations and senior management oversight.
Sources claim that the U.S. decision may also have been influenced by reports of inflated contracts and ghost projects allegedly linked to KAA officials at JKIA and Wilson Airport.
Despite the controversy, the planned security discussions between Kenya and the U.S. went on as scheduled. Topics included strengthening airport safety infrastructure, modernizing screening equipment, and expanding training for Kenya’s aviation security officers.
The KAA and Ministry of Transport are yet to issue official statements. However, U.S. officials insist the decision does not affect broader bilateral cooperation in aviation safety.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19wny43RxE/
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