President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, ordered the shut down of Wilson Airport.
This was before visiting Hungarian President János Áder was to board a passenger plane to places outside of Nairobi.
Sources at the airport who spoke to a local daily revealed that President János Áder was bound to board a plane to Maasai Mara or Diani.
However, President Kenyatta ordered that he be flown by the Kenya Airforce.
Passengers who had already begun boarding their flights were directed to alight as the Kenya Airforce took over operations at the airport.
They complained that they had been delayed to allow the visiting Head of State to fly out.
"We were asked to alight from our planes as all flights were grounded. Most of us have been here since 10 am. Our plane was scheduled for the afternoon but we are now stuck and delayed. We are not yet sure on when operations will resume," a passenger told a local daily.
Kenya Airforce and security agents drawn from Recce were mandated with ensuring security at the airport.
President János Áder arrived in the country on a 4-day state visit.
Hungary and Kenya have since signed an agreement centred around four major aspects in the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two nations.
President János Áder was accompanied by his wife, Hungarian First Lady Anita Herczegh.
Kenya and Hungary agreed to partner in various sectors including agriculture, infrastructure, health and education. The Central European nation will sponsor 200 Kenyan students annually.
Operations have since resumed at Wilson Airport.
