Speaking on Friday, June 20, during the 3rd National Executive Retreat in Karen in the presence of President Ruto, Raila said termination of the deal was a lost opportunity for Kenya’s aviation sector and regional competitiveness.
“Kenya is very strategically located. I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the airport contract,” he said.
Raila explained that political interference played a role in the collapse of the agreement. He warned that such disruptions could harm Nairobi’s future as a hub for trade and travel.
“When they brought in Adani, they brought all these politics, and the contract was cancelled. If that is not done, Nairobi will become dormant,” he added.
Raila Odinga opposes JKIA deal cancelation.
What was the Proposed Adani Deal?
The proposed agreement between Adani Group and the Kenya Airports Authority involved giving Adani a 30-year lease to run Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). In return, Adani would invest nearly $2 billion to modernize the airport. This included building a second runway and upgrading the passenger terminal.
At the end of the lease, Adani would keep an 18% ownership stake in the airport’s aviation operations and would also earn concession fees. The deal also offered Adani some tax breaks and other benefits.
Why was JKIA Adani Deal Canceled?
But Kenyans strongly opposed the deal, as the whole process was not done transparently. In fact, the whole deal only became known publicly after an exposé by whistleblower Nelson Amenya. And most Kenyans perceived the whole deal as “selling” JKIA.
And JKIA workers feared for their jobs. The Adani deal was a major contributor to the June 2024 protests, alongside the contentious Finance Bill.
And on November 21, 2024, President William Ruto made the call to cancel the airport project as well as a separate Adani deal with the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) during his State of the Nation Address in Parliament.
Raila’s remarks reflect growing concern among some leaders about how political decisions may discourage large-scale foreign investments in Kenya’s infrastructure.
