President William Ruto has unequivocally dismissed rumors that the Kenyan government plans to sell the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to a private investor. During a Townhall conversation in Mombasa on Sunday, Ruto clarified that the government is pursuing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to enhance the airport’s facilities, not to privatize the national asset.
“The airport we have in Nairobi is made of canvas in the arrivals. This is a temporary structure we put up almost seven years ago. Ethiopia and Rwanda have brand-new airports. It is the reason why we need to work with investors to give us a new airport,” Ruto explained. He emphasized that the PPP approach allows for both foreign and local investments, fostering an environment conducive to significant infrastructure improvements.
Ruto strongly rebutted the notion of selling JKIA, stressing the absurdity of such an idea. “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 stated. His comments aim to reassure the public and stakeholders that the government remains committed to retaining control over JKIA while seeking necessary upgrades through strategic partnerships.
The president’s remarks come in response to public concern over reports that Adani Airports Holding Limited, an Indian firm, is poised to invest Ksh.242 billion in expanding JKIA. The proposal has elicited significant scrutiny from civil society groups and some legislators, who fear that the state might be covertly planning to sell the airport. The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) recently confirmed that they had received Adani’s proposal, which is part of the Cabinet-ratified JKIA Medium Term Investment Plan.
Adani’s plan, which will span the next 30 years, involves a series of enhancements under the PPP arrangement. These include improvements to JKIA’s existing passenger terminal and the construction of a new one, building a second runway, and upgrading the taxiway and apron. The extensive nature of the proposed project underscores the scale of investment required to bring JKIA up to par with other leading airports in the region.
Public-private partnerships have increasingly become a favored approach for infrastructure development globally. They leverage private sector expertise and funding while ensuring public oversight and strategic alignment with national interests. For Kenya, this model presents an opportunity to revamp JKIA without overburdening the national budget. Ruto’s administration views the PPP framework as a pragmatic solution to modernizing critical infrastructure and enhancing the country’s competitiveness as a regional hub.
Despite the potential benefits, the proposal has not been without controversy. Critics argue that involving a foreign firm in such a crucial project could compromise national security and sovereignty. They also express concerns about the transparency and terms of the agreement, calling for more rigorous scrutiny and public engagement in the decision-making process.
The debate over JKIA’s future highlights the broader challenges and opportunities faced by Kenya as it seeks to balance economic development with safeguarding national assets. As the government navigates these complexities, clear communication and stakeholder engagement will be crucial in building consensus and ensuring that the benefits of such partnerships are widely understood and accepted.
In conclusion, President Ruto’s reaffirmation that JKIA is not for sale aims to quell fears and build public confidence in the government’s development agenda. By pursuing a PPP, Kenya hopes to achieve much-needed upgrades to its main international gateway, bolstering its position as a key player in the regional and global aviation sector.
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