JKIA NOT FOR SALE RUTO EMPHASIZE
President William Ruto has firmly dismissed claims that the government plans to sell the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to a private investor. Instead, he clarified that Kenya is pursuing a Public-private Partnership (PPP) to modernize the facility.
“The airport we have in Nairobi currently has a temporary canvas structure at the arrivals, which was put up almost seven years ago. Compared to new airports in Ethiopia and Rwanda, it’s clear why we need to collaborate with investors to build a new airport,” Ruto explained.
Speaking during a Townhall conversation in Mombasa on Sunday, the President emphasized that a PPP is the most viable solution for upgrading the airport, facilitating both foreign and local investments.
“Am I a mad man? How do you sell a strategic national asset? You have to be insane. We must have the right investment for the airport. What we want to do is to work under the PPP programme,” he asserted.
Ruto’s remarks come in response to public outcry over the proposal to have Adani Airports Holding Limited, a private investor, contribute Ksh.242 billion to expand JKIA. The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed last week that it had received Adani’s proposal, which includes a 30-year plan under the Cabinet-approved JKIA Medium Term Investment Plan.
Adani’s proposal outlines significant upgrades to JKIA, including enhancements to the passenger terminal, the construction of a new terminal, a second runway, and improvements to the taxiway and apron. Despite these plans, the deal has faced intense scrutiny from civil society groups and some legislators, who fear the state is moving to ‘sell’ JKIA.
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JKIA NOT FOR SALE RUTO EMPHASIZE
