Senator Onyonka demands details on JKIA lease as Ruto denies sale claims

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has challenged the government to publicly disclose documents related to the purported lease of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to India's Adani Group.

The lease is reportedly set to be managed through Adani Airports Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of the conglomerate.

On Monday, Onyonka expressed frustration over the government's lack of response to his petition. He pointed out that the Senate has yet to receive any feedback regarding his petition, which seeks to compel the involved parties to disclose the terms and conditions of the deal.

“I want President Ruto to give us the documents. That’s what the law says. There ought to have been public participation involving all stakeholders. Kenyan employees might lose their jobs…and contrary to what the president has said, all airports are going to be managed by this company,” Onyonka said during an interview with Spice FM.

“There is no need for the president to talk. Instead, we need to use relevant institutions to probe whether the claims are true.”

Despite President William Ruto refuting claims that the Airport is on sale amid heavy scrutiny from civil society groups and some legislators, Onyonka insisted on the need for transparency, demanding that Kenyans be provided with full information about the company.

“Kenyans must be furnished with details of the company’s directors, its local registration status, proof of undertaking similar assignment anywhere else, the memorandum of understanding between the company and Kenyan government, and any other valuable information,” he said.

Speaking on Sunday during a town hall meeting in Mombasa, President Ruto clarified that the government is seeking investors to partner with under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to expand and improve the airport’s facilities.

“The reports suggesting that we want to sell the airport are completely misleading. The airport we have in Nairobi is made of temporary structures that were set up almost seven years ago. Meanwhile, Ethiopia and Rwanda have built brand new airports. We need to collaborate with investors to build a new, modern airport in Nairobi,” Ruto said.

He insisted that he wouldn’t sell the airport since it is a national asset.

“Am I a madman? How do you sell a strategic national asset like an airport? It is unimaginable. The airport is crucial to our national interests, and our goal under the PPP Program is to enhance its facilities, not sell them,” he said.

According to the Head of State, many countries have successfully modernised their airports through PPP arrangements, leading to significant improvements in infrastructure. He highlighted that the existing facilities at JKIA have outlived their usefulness, necessitating an upgrade to meet current and future demands.

“We are about 10 years behind in modernising our airports. It’s crucial to work with investors to bring our airports up to modern standards, as they are vital government assets,” he said.

He urged Kenyans not to fall for misleading reports and emphasised the importance of maintaining transparency and accountability in the PPP process.

He assured the public that all developments regarding the PPP will be communicated openly, ensuring that Kenyans are informed about the progress and specifics of the partnership.