MPs want JKIA-Adani talks halted amid lack of transparency

Members of Parliament are calling for a halt to ongoing negotiations with Adani Holdings regarding the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) takeover until the details of the deal are fully clarified.

This follows Principal Secretary for Treasury Chris Kiptoo's failure to provide sufficient information on the matter.

Kiptoo, who appeared before the National Assembly Public Debt and Privatisation Committee to address Parliament's concerns about the 30-year plan to hand over JKIA to the Indian investor, offered only a brief, one-line response to the question.

"The review of the proposal by Adani for the JKIA upgrade is ongoing. The National Treasury will give a comprehensive submission after concluding the review," he said on Wednesday.

The explanation did not sit well with committee members, who insisted that the Treasury be instructed to cease further engagements with Adani.

The lawmakers emphasised that the issue was of significant national importance, deserving more than just a brief explanation.

Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku stated that the government's failure to provide information fueled speculation and suspicion surrounding the deal.

"I have enough texts here from Gen Z and the public. Some of the protests we witnessed last month were as a result of the secrecy in these deals," he said.

Kitui MP Irene Kasalu said she was amazed by the PS's short answer to such a serious question. "We are not seated here to get such short answers. JKIA is a government property, a security area and means a lot to Kenyans and we cannot take what you have presented as an answer," she noted.

The committee indicated that Parliament would need to intervene to halt any further actions on the takeover until a thorough explanation is provided.

The government is said to have entered into a concession deal with the Indian firm to expand the facility and run the operations for 30 years.

Adani Group wants to invest $2 billion (Sh260 billion) in JKIA for a new terminal and runway.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said on July 30 that the government has not yet inked any agreements with Adani Airports Holdings Limited over upgrading the JKIA infrastructure.

In a clarification on the group's PIP Mudavadi said the proposal by the firm is currently undergoing due process including reviews and negotiations.

He said this complies with the Public-Private Partnership Act.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen echoed the sentiments noting he has not 'sold' the airport as widely claimed.

Murkomen said he cannot enter into any Public-Private Partnership (PPP) as a Cabinet Secretary.

The CS maintained that JKIA is yet to enter into a Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) with the Adani Group.

He, however, noted that this will not be the first PIP as the Expressway was constructed through the proposal.