Esther Passaris has defended the JKIA-Adani deal, stating that the Indian conglomerate- Adani Group has done exemplary work in other countries.
Speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Passaris said that the government needs to ensure that the public is informed of the potential benefits the takeover may present.
“I think one of the biggest challenges we have in this country and anywhere in the world is that when you have a tender, and you want to get that, there are going to be many other persons who want that contract. The government should come clear, that’s why we have a government spokesman; break it down so that Kenyans understand everything,” Passaris said.
She added that the Adani Group had done some notable upgrades to an airport in India, transforming it into a five-star facility.
“I have personally been to Ahmedabad (Airport) quite a number of times because that’s why my husband goes for medical attention, and the Ahmedabad airport has been done by the Adani Group. The first time I went to Ahmedabad four years ago, it was a very mediocre airport. Today, it is a five-star airport. I’ve been to estates within Ahmedabad built by the Adani Group,” she added.
Passaris underscored the need for transparency in the deal, stating that secrecy had only served to fuel speculation.
“I feel sometimes that as government, we need to be able to sit and discuss; Kenyans need to understand what it is that the Adani Group are going to provide,” Passaris added.
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee of the National Assembly headed by Ndia MP Kariuki Macharia have yet to disclose the details surrounding the planned takeover of the JKIA.
Neither have the other members of the committee including Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa revealed the intricacies of the deal that saw operations at major airports in the country grind to a halt.
Scanty details which have seeped through indicate that the deal will involve Ksh96 billion which will be used to construct a second runway, a new passenger terminal, an associated apron and taxiway systems.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura on September 5, 2024, defended the plans, stating that JKIA had far outran its capacity of 7.5 million annual passengers, and the number had surged to 8.5 million last year.
Mwaura observed that the deterioration at the main national gateway had exposed the country to international ridicule and that JKIA needed an urgent transformation.