‘We missed a great opportunity to transform JKIA’: Raila says on cancelled Adani deal

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has lamented the cancellation of the Adani-JKIA renovation deal, saying the country missed a great opportunity to transform the airport to international standards.

Speaking on Friday during the 3rd National Executive Retreat in Nairobi, the former Prime Minister said politics had disrupted vital infrastructure plans, leaving the government no chance to better the airport infrastructure.

“I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the airport contract. That was very unfortunate...You know, we had awarded the Greenfield Airport contract before we left government with Kibaki in 2012. That contract was canceled. Then it was given again to the same contractor later, but again canceled somewhere because of disagreements in the middle,” said Mr. Odinga.

“And the now when you brought in Adani they brought all this politics, and then the contract was cancelled. If that is not done, Nairobi will just become dormant. Look at Addis Ababa, it’s growing, and now they’re putting up a new big airport. Addis Ababa is going to be the regional hub…Ethiopian Airlines is the dominant airline now in the continent, Kenya Airways can do the same…but we’re not doing it.”

President William Ruto was forced to cancel the deal in November last year after public pressure against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, who was interdicted for corruption in the US.

The United States government charged Gautam Adani, chair of Indian conglomerate Adani Group for allegedly paying Ksh.30 billion in bribes to the Indian government to obtain solar energy supply contracts. 

President Ruto then directed the Ministries of Transport and Energy to cancel the ongoing deals proposed by the Adani Group to take over the country's infrastructure in the energy and aviation sectors. 

During his State of the Nation Address on November 21, 2024, the President said the decision was attributed to credible evidence from relevant agencies. 

"Based on new information provided by our investigative agencies and partner nations - that the procuring agencies within the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum immediately cancel the ongoing procurement process for the JKIA Expansion Public Private Partnership transaction, as well as the recently concluded KETRACO transmission line Public Private Partnership contract, and immediately commence the process of onboarding alternative partners," said Ruto then. 

Adani had proposed a Ksh.260 billion deal to renovate the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for a 30-year period and provide Ksh.95 billion to develop the country's transmission lines, all under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.