Jubilee Party Secretary General, Jeremiah Kioni, has announced plans to cancel the lease agreement for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) if his party comes to power.
The Kenyan government is currently negotiating a concession deal with India’s Adani Group to expand JKIA.
Kioni has strongly criticized this agreement, labeling it as illegal due to the lack of parliamentary involvement in the decision-making process. He emphasized that the opposition does not recognize the current lease and vowed to revoke it if they assume leadership of the country. During a speech at Ufungumano House in Nairobi on August 28, 2024, Kioni warned, “Be very careful; when we come to power, we will not recognize that sale.”
The event was attended by notable figures such as Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper party, Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-K, and Peter Munya of PNU.
The proposed deal involves a $2 billion investment to construct a new terminal and runway, with operations extending over the next 30 years.
However, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi clarified on July 30, 2024, that no formal agreement has yet been signed with Adani Airports Holdings Limited concerning the JKIA upgrade. He explained that the proposal is still under review and undergoing negotiations as per the requirements of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also addressed the controversy, denying accusations that he “sold” the airport during his time as Transport Cabinet Secretary. Murkomen clarified that, as a Cabinet Secretary, he lacked the authority to enter into any Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements on his own.
He further noted that JKIA has not yet entered into a Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) with the Adani Group, contrasting the situation with the Expressway project, which was developed through a PIP. Murkomen explained that the PIP process includes assessing the viability of the proposal and verifying the company’s capacity before proceeding to the PPP directorate within the Treasury.
Murkomen assured that the current process is complex and involves multiple steps, including public participation and stakeholder engagement, before any final decisions are made. He also emphasized that the proposed new terminal would occupy only a small portion of the airport’s land, which is necessary for the expansion.
