Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called on the government to abandon the proposed takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by the Adani Group.
Speaking in Nairobi on Saturday, Kalonzo cited a lack of transparency, claiming the deal is shrouded in secrecy. Referring to past plans for the airport, Kalonzo mentioned that under former President Mwai Kibaki’s leadership, discussions focused on expanding JKIA with a second runway under Vision 2030.
He criticized the current government’s approach, suggesting it was engaging in secretive dealings over a key national asset.
“JKIA is a vital national resource, and there should be an open and transparent public dialogue regarding its future,” Kalonzo said.
The former Vice President also raised concerns about the process, accusing the Kenya Kwanza administration of bypassing procurement procedures by single-sourcing Adani Group for the project.
“This is single sourcing, which goes against the principles of transparency and fairness. You cannot operate in secrecy. Now the Transport CS says there will be public participation. They should withdraw the entire deal,” Kalonzo demanded.
Kalonzo’s remarks come after senators voiced their opposition to the proposed takeover, calling for its cancellation.
On Friday, the Senate summoned Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir to explain the deal, following protests from Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) workers who fear job losses if the takeover proceeds.
In his response, Chirchir presented details of the concession agreement to the Senate Committee on Transport but emphasized that no formal contract had been signed yet.
He clarified that the proposal from Adani Group was still under review and subject to stakeholder engagement.
“This is a proposal, not a contract. It involves a new terminal with a capacity of 23 million passengers, and we are still at the stakeholder consultation stage,” Chirchir explained.
However, senators raised concerns that the deal, which proposes Adani running the airport for 30 years, could be a potential avenue for corruption. Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah claimed that it might be used to siphon funds from the public.
Earlier in the week, striking KAA workers, represented by the Kenya Airport Workers Union (KAWU), had halted operations at JKIA, demanding transparency in the deal.
After negotiations mediated by COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, the union agreed to suspend the strike but insisted that they would scrutinize the documents before any further steps are taken. They also demanded an assurance that no worker would face repercussions for participating in the strike. The government and KAA committed not to finalize any agreement with Adani Group without input from KAWU.
