Flight delays as JKIA staff initiate go slow over Adani lease agreement

Airport workers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Tuesday initiated a go-slow in protest of the government's proposal to lease the airport to Indian conglomerate Adani Group for 30 years in exchange for expanding the facility.

Videos and photos circulating online showed long queues and stranded passengers at the airport due to the impact of the workers' slow service. Flight delays were also reported following prolonged processing times.

The workers have been vocal in their opposition to the lease, vowing to paralyze operations until their concerns are addressed.

They have accused the government of failing to observe legal protocols for public participation and stakeholder engagement in the decision-making process.

Additionally, the workers have expressed concerns that the lease could result in job losses, claiming that Adani plans to take over ground handling services and reduce the workforce.

The go-slow follows a High Court ruling issued hours earlier, temporarily halting the government’s plans to lease JKIA.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) filed the case, arguing that the lease was not only irrational but also violated the principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability.

“Thus, the Adani proposal is unaffordable, threatens job losses, exposes the public to fiscal risk, and offers no value for money to the taxpayer," Dudley Ochiel, a lawyer representing KHRC and LSK said.

Under the proposed deal, Adani Enterprises would invest an estimated $1.85 billion (Sh238 billion) to expand the airport, including constructing a new passenger terminal and a second runway.

However, KHRC and LSK argued that Kenya could raise these funds independently without surrendering control of JKIA for three decades.

"Kenya would be handing over a strategic and profitable asset for 30 years, along with all revenues and financial transactions over that period," Ochiel said.

He also noted that, even after the lease period, Adani would retain an 18 per cent equity stake in JKIA’s aeronautical business, which would entitle the company to a concession fee starting at Sh6 billion, rising by 10 per cent every five years indefinitely.

High Court judge John Chigiti certified the case as urgent and granted a temporary suspension of the deal until a final determination is made.

The case is set to be mentioned again on October 8, when a judgment date will be scheduled.

In addition to the financial concerns, the petitioners highlighted broader issues with the agreement. Under the terms of the deal, Adani would gain nearly 30 acres of unencumbered land next to JKIA for property development, enjoy a 10-year tax exemption, and be allowed to import foreign labour, which the petitioners argue would further threaten the livelihoods of Kenyan workers.

"This deal not only threatens jobs but also violates key constitutional provisions, including Articles 26, 41, and 43, which safeguard the rights of Kenyans to employment and economic security," Ochiel said.