‘Ata hamjawai kanyaga airport! Ruto Defends JKIA-Adani Project
President William Ruto has expressed frustration over the halting of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) upgrade project, which was stalled following the cancellation of a controversial deal with India’s Adani Group. The President criticized opponents of the project, accusing them of lacking constructive alternatives while hindering progress.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Devki Iron Processing Project in Taita Taveta County, Ruto passionately defended his administration’s efforts to modernize Kenya’s largest airport. The scrapped Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal with Adani would have seen the conglomerate invest Ksh.260 billion to elevate the airport to international standards.
“Heroes of What?”
President Ruto took a swipe at critics, stating that their opposition was baseless and counterproductive.
“The people who contribute nothing yet are celebrated like heroes for opposing progress, mashujaa kitu gani? Our airport floods on the runway, and instead of fixing it, we glorify those who sabotage its development,” he said with visible irritation.
He went on to add:
“What gain do you get when you stop the building of an airport in your country? You have no clue how it’s going to be built. Wale wanapinga, ata hawajai kanyaga airport, unapinga tu.”
JKIA’s Future Still Bright
Despite the setback, President Ruto assured Kenyans that his government remains committed to upgrading JKIA. While acknowledging the integrity issues surrounding the Adani deal, he expressed confidence that the company could have delivered a high-quality project but reiterated his respect for laws that prevent partnerships with entities facing corruption allegations.
“We may have stopped Adani from building it because of the law that bars us from engaging with people who have cases. But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to build the airport. We’re going to develop a new framework and work with people who believe in this country,” he said.
A Controversial Fallout
The Adani deal was terminated on November 21, 2024, following reports from the U.S. government alleging that Gautam Adani, the conglomerate’s chairman, paid Ksh.30 billion in bribes to secure solar energy contracts in India. The revelation sparked outrage in Kenya after whistleblower Nelson Amenya shared documents online, questioning the lack of transparency in awarding the deal.
Public criticism mounted as Kenyans learned that Adani also intended to venture into sectors like energy and health. Calls for accountability were fueled by concerns over the conglomerate’s potential dominance and the government’s failure to pursue a competitive bidding process.
Looking Ahead
While acknowledging the challenges, President Ruto remains steadfast in his vision to uplift JKIA to international standards. His administration plans to work with credible partners who share the government’s commitment to fostering development in Kenya.
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‘Ata hamjawai kanyaga airport! Ruto Defends JKIA-Adani Project
