Government officials including President William Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, have clarified the pending agreement with Adani and denied plans to sell JKIA to the Indian firm.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has threatened to go on strike over the proposed lease of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Adani Airports Holdings Limited. The union is set to issue a notice that will lead to the shutting down of all airports and airstrips in Kenya on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
According to the minutes of a meeting held by KAWU on Saturday, August 3, obtained and verified by Viral Tea, the review of Adani’s acquisition of JKIA was among the agenda items deliberated on during the meeting.
Also deliberated was the eviction of Henry Ogoye who has been serving as the acting Managing Director of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) since August 26, 2023, as well as resignations from the KAA board. The planning of the strike was also discussed.
KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema. /NATION BREAKING.X
The meeting also discussed the financial status of JKIA which was broken down as follows:
- KAA net worth: Ksh1.105 trillion.
- Airport land: Ksh936 billion.
- KAA housing: Ksh600 million.
- FY 2023 profit after tax: Ksh4.7 billion.
It was revealed that Adani had proposed a 30-year lease of JKIA with new terms as well as KAA staff reapplication with reduced salaries and revised KAA regulations and those from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
Other proposals included 18 percent permanent shares to Adani post-lease, tax exemptions and free work permits for Adani, consolidation of all ground handling under Adani management, transfer of all agreements to Adani and KAA general managers of project and engineering to stop leading the ongoing negotiations.
KAWU had resolved that Ogoye immediately vacate office as well as the KAA board within seven days and for all airport stakeholders and business community to come together in opposition to the Adani takeover.
“Scheduled strike notice to shut down all Kenyan airports and airstrips to be issued on Saturday, 10th, 2024. Mandatory attendance at the next meeting for all stakeholders and to participate in the strike,” read the minutes in part.
“We don’t want Adani in Kenya and if they are so good then India is big enough for them. KAA has got enough money to fund their projects. We reject Adani and the government’s move!”
In a subsequent address to the media, the Union’s Secretary General Moses Ndiema warned that they might paralyze operations if the leasing plan for JKIA proceeds, alleging that the plans are spearheaded by certain powerful politicians, suggesting that some of them might even have shares in the Indian company.
“This is a criminal enterprise and corruption. Here is a case where the big players within the political class want to reap JKIA. In fact, I would not be surprised if some of them own shares in Adani,” he said.
“So, it is just our people here who are trying to position themselves and mask as Indians and Adani. They would have privatized JKIA without following the due process. What do you mean by owning 18% of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) permanently and forever, in private hands under which process?”
Government officials including President William Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, have clarified the pending agreement with Adani and denied plans to sell JKIA to the Indian firm.
During his vetting before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, former Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen explained that the agreement is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and not necessarily a sale of the airport.
Murkomen clarified that the Adani proposal is a Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) under the PPP framework, stating that this is not the first time the government has undertaken such a program.
“PPP is a very important concept for developing our infrastructure. I want to be very clear to the people of Kenya: I have not and do not have the capacity to enter into any PPP as a person or as a Cabinet Secretary, and I have not in any way sold the airport,” Murkomen said.
Terminal 1A building at JKIA, Nairobi. /FILE