Sports and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary nominee Kipchumba Murkomen has cleared the air regarding Adani Holdings’ proposal to give the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) a makeover via a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.
Speaking before the National Assembly Committee during his vetting on Saturday, August 3, 2024, Murkomen said that as a Cabinet Secretary, he does not have the authority to engage in any Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements.
“If someone wakes up and says such an elaborate process involves one individual, let alone one agency… I have not and do not have the capacity, to sell JKIA. A PPP process is a collective process. I want to assure you, JKIA is safe, your assets are safe,” he declared.
Murkomen explained that the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) would need to establish a relationship with the proponent before any PPP agreement could proceed.
Murkomen reassured the committee that the President is committed to ensuring transparency in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) processes, using the example of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to illustrate that this is a standard procedure.
He noted that the President has publicly expressed the necessity for Kenyans to understand the PPP process. The JKIA project is part of a series of Privately Initiated Proposals (PIP), not an isolated case.
“The truth is the President has said it publicly, the people of Kenya need to be taken through the process of PPP. The PIP (Privately Initiated Proposal), which is the case of JKIA, is not the first one,” Murkomen noted.
He highlighted the Nairobi Expressway as the first PIP. He said the government evaluated various contractors and selected one deemed appropriate.
According to Murkomen, the Expressway is governed by a 30-year contract, after which it will be handed back to the people of Kenya, having been utilized and maintained during this period.
“The first PIP was the Expressway, the government evaluated and found a proper contractor, and now we have the Expressway with a contract period of 30 years, transferrable back to the people of Kenya once the road is used and maintained,” Murkomen said
Addressing concerns about land allocation for the JKIA project, Murkomen clarified that only a small portion of land—approximately 20 to 30 acres—will be designated for the terminal construction.
He noted the importance of this development, noting that Kenya needs to advance its infrastructure to keep pace with neighbouring countries.
He mentioned that Ethiopia has already surpassed Kenya in this regard, Rwanda is nearing the completion of its new airport, and Tanzania has significantly improved its facilities.
“I want to assure Kenyans, where the proponent will build the terminal is only maybe 20, 30 acres, not the thousands of acres, only a small land that will be set aside where the proponent will build the terminal…and we need it, and if we don’t do it, we will become the last in the region. Ethiopia has defeated us, Rwanda is about to complete its airport, and Tanzania has improved theirs.”
JKIA deal
On July 30, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi clarified that the government has not finalized any agreements with Adani Airports Holdings Limited concerning the upgrade of the JKIA infrastructure.
He said that the discussions are still ongoing and that all terms and conditions are being negotiated by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, all terms and conditions of the proposed arrangement are subject to negotiation by the provisions of the PPP Act and no terms have been agreed upon yet,” Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi assured that, once terms are finalized, there will be measures in place to protect Kenya’s national interests and hold the private party accountable for their responsibilities.
He reassured the public that every phase of the project would be thoroughly reviewed and scrutinized, highlighting the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability throughout the entire process.