I did not 'sell' JKIA, I lack capacity to do so – Murkomen

Ministry of Youth, Sports and the Arts Cabinet Secretary (CS) nominee Kipchumba Murkomen has clarified the deal involving Indian company Adani Airport Holdings Limited and the government of Kenya over the leasing of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on Saturday, Murkomen explained the deal between the government and the Indian firm, saying that it is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) and not necessarily selling the airport.

He said he did not have the capacity as the former Cabinet Secretary for Transport to enter into any Public -Private Partnership (PPP) without involving other agencies.

"I have not, and I do not have the capacity to enter into a Public-Private partnership as an individual. I have in no way sold JKIA," Murkomen stated.

The CS nominee was responding to National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah who asked him to shed light on the JKIA deal which has caused uproar from Kenyans.

Murkomen also clarified that JKIA is yet to enter into a Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) with the Adani Group. He added that if the PPP is successful, it won't be the first, as Expressway was constructed through such an agreement.

"The difference between the Expressway and the JKIA is that there was a proposal," Murkomen noted.

The former Transport CS explained that when a PPP is proposed, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) must first conduct a preliminary process to determine the viability and capacity of the involved company.

After this initial step, the proposal moves to the PPP Directorate in the Treasury. However, Murkomen noted that this stage had not yet been reached.

The nominee further clarified that KAA must first establish a relationship with the proponent. Currently, the authority has reached a point where public participation and stakeholder engagement are required. Once these are completed, the report will be sent to the PPP Directorate.

The JKIA – Adani deal has caused uproar from Kenyans. Last week, Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi also clarified that the government has not signed any agreements with Adani Airports Holdings Limited over upgrading the JKIA infrastructure.

According to Mudavadi, the proposal by the private company is undergoing due process including reviews and negotiations in compliance with the PPP Act.

"For the avoidance of any doubt, all terms and conditions of the proposed arrangement are subject to negotiation in accordance with the provisions of the PPP Act and no terms have been agreed upon yet," he said in a statement.