Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris on Wednesday morning defended the controversial Adani takeover deal describing the much maligned deal as a “potential game changer for airports in Kenya”.
Speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Passaris claimed that Kenyans need to educate themselves more on the benefits the deal will present the country instead of reacting to prevailing sentiments, which has seen Kenyans across the country express their vehement opposition to the deal.
“Kenyans need to understand what the Adani group will provide. I have been to Ahmedabad Airport (India) that was done by Adani. The first time I went to Ahmedabad airport, four years ago, it was a mediocre airport, today it’s one of the five-star airports,” Passaris stated as she was leaving the country for Johannesburg where she is expected to represent Kenya at a Pan African Parliament forum.
Passaris went ahead to praise the value of infrastructure Adani constructed around the Ahmedabad airport. She opined that the only negative surrounding the deal is the Kenya Kwanza government’s reluctance to come clear on the terms of the deal and educate Kenyans on its benefits.
An image of Ahmedabad Airport that was renovated by Adani Group
Photo
Indian Eagle
“When you try and have a big contract, there are many people who want that contract. The government should come clear and that’s why we have a government spokesperson, to break it down and help people understand how much money are they gonna put into the airport,” she stated.
This came even as Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) workers downed their tools to protest the deal. The workers demanded the government furnish them with documents detailing the terms the Kenya Kwanza administration had agreed with the Indian company.
The workers staged a protest beginning midnight, camping at JKIA. Determined to make their voice heard, the workers sustained the demonstration through to Wednesday midmorning.
Workers from other airports in Kenya joined the protests, effectively paralyzing operations at Mombasa and Kisumu airports.
As the strikes persisted, the Kenyan government through aviation regulator, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) issued a notice of delayed flights to all pilots.
The government has however defended the deal insisting it is necessary to bring JKIA to the required standard with infrastructure at the national facility light years behind where it needs to be.
“Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), a key national asset constructed in 1978 and managed by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), has seen significant infrastructure deterioration over the past 45 years,” Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura stated on September 5.
Before being reassigned to the Sports docket, CS Kipchumba Murkomen was forced to personally visit the JKIA to inspect the infrastructure. The CS was at pains to explain why the facility flooded on multiple occasions and why the national facility had to grapple with frequent blackouts.
However, Kenyans have still insisted the government still needs to come clean on the terms of the deal.
A ‘Kwaheri Kenya’ sign at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)
Photo
Larry Madowo
