The government has confirmed that Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is not for sale. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi made this clear while speaking to the Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday.
Mudavadi addressed rumors on social media claiming that JKIA was being leased to a foreign company for 30 years. As a result, angry Kenyans on X even started a #OccupyJKIA movement.
Mudavadi Says JKIA is not for Sale
However, Mudavadi has firmly denied these claims.
He stated, “JKIA is a public asset, it is a strategic asset, and if it was going to be sold, you can only do it after a full public process that Parliament endorses. So anybody who is giving the impression that Jomo Kenyatta airport has been sold is not being factual.”
He also mentioned that while there are no plans to sell the airport, there are plans to upgrade it. This includes building a new terminal, as previous plans to construct a Greenfield Terminal were halted due to legal issues.
“The Kenya Airports Authority must look at its investment programme very carefully, make sure that everything is transparent so that during the expansion process of the second terminal, if it’s under the PPP arrangement, let it be done properly, thoroughly through the legal process so that everybody knows what is going on,” Mudavadi explained.
Additionally, the government is working on making Nairobi a major logistical hub. This includes developing logistics centers in cities like Mombasa and Naivasha connected to JKIA.
Mudavadi was speaking as the acting Treasury CS, explaining changes in the Supplementary Budget for 2024-25. President William Ruto appointed him to this role after dismissing his entire Cabinet on July 11.
He said, “I hope that clears the air,” reassuring everyone that JKIA is not for sale.
By Vivian K.