Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has once again strongly defended the controversial Adani deal that was meant to modernise the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Speaking during an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) parliamentary group meeting in Machakos on Monday, September 22, the veteran opposition leader criticised Kenyans who opposed the project, insisting that their actions cost the country a major opportunity.
Raila Odinga Defends Adani Investment Plan
Adani, the Indian multinational conglomerate, had won a multi-billion-shilling contract to revamp JKIA in a deal worth KSh 637 billion.
The agreement would have allowed the company to manage JKIA and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) for 30 years under a public-private partnership model.
However, President William Ruto’s administration cancelled the deal following widespread protests and public outcry from Kenyans who argued that the tender was not in the country’s best interests.
Raila, however, described the resistance as unnecessary and misguided. According to him, Adani had pledged to invest huge amounts of money to give JKIA and Nairobi a new modern look.
“When Adani came here with a plan to remake the airport, too much noise was raised in parliament and in public for no valid reason. Eventually, Adani pulled out, and now the airport remains in the same state. They were not taking away the airport; they were bringing in their own funds to transform it and would simply charge modestly for 30 years. That was the arrangement, but now it is gone,” Raila told ODM MPs.
Raila Claims Interests Were Behind the Cancellation
The ODM leader further alleged that there were hidden interests working against the deal. He claimed that certain individuals were paid to smear Adani’s name and push negative publicity because they wanted to take over the lucrative project themselves.
“Today, the same Adani is developing Kigali International Airport in Rwanda under a similar deal. Kigali is now positioning itself to become the regional hub, while Nairobi is being left behind because of the unnecessary opposition here at home.
Some people with selfish interests paid others to publish negative stories in newspapers and mislead the public. Shame on them!” Raila said firmly.
Why the Adani-JKIA Deal Mattered
The deal with Adani was seen as one of the largest single investments in Kenya’s aviation sector. It was expected to expand JKIA’s capacity, improve services, and strengthen Nairobi’s status as East Africa’s premier aviation hub.
Raila insisted that rejecting the deal has left Kenya at a disadvantage compared to neighbours who are now more welcoming to international investors.
He argued that Rwanda’s decision to work with Adani is already showing how Nairobi lost out, as Kigali International Airport is now expected to outshine JKIA in both capacity and infrastructure.
Government Considers Building a New Airport
Meanwhile, the Kenya Kwanza government has hinted at new plans to build an entirely new airport to replace JKIA.
Speaking at the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Symposium in Nairobi, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the government wants to overcome long-standing infrastructural challenges and ensure Kenya maintains its place as a leading aviation gateway in the region.
Chirchir explained that the project will also be handled through a PPP arrangement, similar to the model initially proposed for the Adani deal. He emphasised that the new facility would help Kenya attract more travellers and remain competitive as an aviation hub.
“We want Kenyans to support this project because it is meant to give the country a modern, world-class airport. Past challenges, including the cancelled Adani deal, should not discourage us from pursuing partnerships that benefit our nation,” Chirchir said.
Kenya at a Crossroads
The cancellation of the Adani deal continues to divide opinion. While some Kenyans saw the project as a foreign takeover of national assets, others, including Raila Odinga, believe it was a missed chance to transform Kenya’s transport sector.
As neighbouring countries like Rwanda move ahead with major international airport projects, the debate remains on whether Kenya will seize the next opportunity or risk being left behind in the race to dominate East Africa’s aviation industry.
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