Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka took Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to task over key government policies during a funeral ceremony in Trans Nzoia County on Friday, September 6, 2024. The funeral, a somber occasion for many, turned into a political arena as Onyonka voiced his concerns about the government’s plans for university funding and airport management.
Onyonka’s primary grievance was the proposed overhaul of the university funding model and the government’s plan to privatize airport management, specifically targeting the agreement with the Adani Group to manage Kenya’s airports, including the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Speaking directly to Gachagua, Onyonka questioned the rationale behind selling off national assets and the impact on local employees.
“How can we sell our airports; how can we take 14 airstrips and give them to an Indian company nobody knows the agreement and what has been signed?” Onyonka asked, raising concerns about the future of the 5,000 employees currently working with the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA). “Nobody knows where these people are going to go,” he added, expressing his frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the agreement.
The Adani Group, an Indian multinational, is set to take over the management of Kenyan airports in a 30-year deal, with plans to invest approximately Ksh96 billion into upgrading JKIA. This includes constructing a new runway, building a new passenger terminal, refurbishing existing terminals, and improving luggage handling facilities. According to government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, these upgrades are essential due to the significant infrastructure deterioration at JKIA, which has been managed by KAA since its construction in 1978.
Mwaura defended the agreement, stating, “Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), a key national asset, has seen significant infrastructure deterioration over the past 45 years.” He emphasized that the Adani Group’s involvement would modernize the airport and eventually return it to government control after the investment period.
However, Onyonka’s criticism extended beyond the airport deal to the university education funding model. He highlighted what he perceives as injustices in the current system, particularly how it affects students from low-income backgrounds. Onyonka recounted the story of two twins admitted to the same university for the same course but placed in different funding bands, with one in the more favorable band one and the other in the less advantageous band five.
“Tell me how you sold that,” Onyonka challenged, pointing out the discrepancies and unfairness in the current funding model. “Tell the president we have no issues with him; we only have issues with his policies: There is something wrong with this policy and we are asking the government to change this policy and ensure that poor people are taken care of by the republic,” he declared.
The senator’s remarks reflect growing discontent among some members of the political and public spheres regarding the government’s handling of crucial national assets and social policies. Onyonka’s outspoken stance is likely to resonate with those who feel that the current administration’s policies are not adequately addressing the needs of ordinary Kenyans and are instead favoring privatization and foreign investments at the expense of local interests and transparency.
As the debate continues, the government’s response to Onyonka’s criticisms and the future of the proposed airport and university funding changes will be closely watched. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions within Kenyan politics as different stakeholders push for reforms and adjustments to policies affecting the nation’s infrastructure and education systems.
