Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has taken a fresh swipe at the Kenya Kwanza Government alleging that there is an ulterior motive in the controversial Adani deal to take over operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
During a church service at St Paul ACK Nyathuna, Kabete Town, the Wiper Party boss strongly opposed the deal and accused the government was engaging in shady deals behind the scenes.
“How can we sell our international airport just like that?” he posed. “Of all the scams this country has seen, the Adani scam is unbelievable.”
“They’re engaging in secret deals without engaging the public, Parliament, the Senate or the National Assembly. That’s why we have to say no.”
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
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Trip Advisor
The former Vice President further faulted the government for going forward with the Adani deal without public participation.
Former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, another fierce critic of the current regime, echoed Kalonzo’s sentiments, alleging that the Adani group was rejected in other first-world countries.
“The Adani group was rejected in Australia and Sri Lanka. In Bangladesh, there were protests and the regime failed because of this group which has now been brought to Kenya, ” he alleged.
Kalonzo has been on a mission to strengthen his presidential bid ahead of the 2027 polls and he appears to have upped his political game since Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga confirmed his intentions to go for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship job.
Despite Odinga’s new-found cordial relationship with President Ruto, the Wiper Party leader has remained adamant that he will not collaborate with the current regime. He insists that he will be Ruto’s main opponent come 2027.
News that the government had entered into a deal with the Adani Airport Holdings in a 30-year concession arrangement to upgrade the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was met with public uproar, despite assurances that all Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) employees would be absorbed under the Indian company.
The Indian multinational reportedly intends to invest more than Ksh96.6 billion to go towards the establishment of a second runway, a new passenger terminal among other facilities.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura had previously dismissed reports that the deal was a public-private partnership, insisting that the goal was to upgrade the JKIA to modern and international standards.
Mwaura noted that part of the reason the partnership was necessary was because of the surge in passenger capacity at JKIA from 7.5 million to 8.6 million last year in 2023.
Kalonzo Musyoka speaking in Meru County on July 7, 2024.
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The Wiper Democratic Movement
