CS Mutua promises to release Adani-JKIA deal documents to aviation workers

Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has promised to avail to the aviation workers, the documents of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) expansion and refurbishment deal by Indian firm Adani Group.

Mutua on Wednesday said it's good for the workers to read through the document so that they can make informed choices on the deal instead of relying on rumours.

"I will communicate with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport Davis Chirchir who has accompanied President William Ruto to China to ensure that you get the remaining documents by Friday, for you to peruse through," he said.

The CS while engaging over 1,000 aviation workers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) also stated that he had not passed through the deal documents.

The workers requested the meeting to express their fears about reports that India's Adani Group might take over JKIA management.

KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema said the government had released a few documents on conditions that they will not share them with other union members or fellow employees.

The workers said they are not opposed to the modernisation of the airport through the deal but are against how it is being carried out in secret.

CS Mutua explained that he stepped in as a mediator between the workers and the Ministry of Transport to prevent a potential disruption of services at the busy airport. He noted that the meeting included representatives and leaders from the aviation sector, along with civil aviation employees, who openly discussed their challenges, fears, and concerns.

"The workers had requested this meeting so that I could relay their issues to the Ministry of Roads and Transport," Mutua said.

Hearsay

Going further, the CS said that from their engagement, it became clear that the aviation workers were acting on nothing more than hearsay regarding their welfare as far as the Adani deal goes.

"Throughout our discussions, it became clear that the employees lacked a complete understanding of key issues affecting their welfare, leading to the spread of various rumours," Mutua said.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua engages with aviation workers during a meeting on their welfare regarding the proposed lease of JKIA to Indian-based Adani Group Holdings on, September 4, 2024 in Nairobi. (Photo: Ministry of Labour)

CS Mutua stated that he carefully listened to the workers' grievances and acknowledged the need for improved communication from their employer, the Kenya Airports Authority.

He urged them to seek accurate information regarding the proposed airport lease, emphasising the importance of forming opinions based on facts rather than misinformation.

"We agreed that I would arrange for their union leaders to hold another session with the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport early next week," Mutua said.

In addition, the CS requested the aviation workers to be patient and wait for the release of the necessary documents and further clarification from their employer before taking any further action.

"I assured them of my and the Ministry of Labour's commitment to fairness and said that their concerns especially regarding how the proposed PPP will affect their rights and employment terms will be addressed promptly," he said.

The CS asked the workers to avoid engaging in activism but focus on their staff welfare issues as per the deal.

According to the workers, 30,000 of them stand to lose jobs if the deal goes through or will be forced to reapply through the investor.

On Monday, aviation workers marched to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) offices, demanding more documents "to read, understand, and present well-informed demands to the government regarding the Adani public-private partnership (PPP) proposal."

KAA employees, represented by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), are considering going on strike over the proposed lease of the airport to Adani Airport Holdings for expansion. They fear that if the deal goes through, they could lose their jobs, with the investor potentially bringing in foreign workers.

However, the workers have postponed their strike plans for seven days, opting to review the lease documents before deciding whether to proceed with the strike.