Head of Creative Economy and Special Projects in the Office of the President Dennis Itumbi was on Friday heckled by university students while trying to justify the Adani Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) takeover deal to the audience.
Itumbi was speaking at the Bomas of Kenya where the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) was launching a program where university students can engage directly with the ruling government.
The digital strategist was attempting to defend the controversial deal but the varsity students shut him down through jeering and booing, forcing him to cut short his speech.
Itumbi compared the Adani deal to a similar contract in Rwanda that allowed the neighbouring country to build a state-of-the-art airport.
India’s Adani Group office
Photo
Nikkei Asia
“Our neighbors in Rwanda are building a brand new airport to house 7 million passengers, but you guys here are saying don’t do it, don’t expand that airport…It’s okay, it’s okay”, Itumbi stated.
The over 2,000 University students from different parts of the country had been mobilised as the ruling party explores different strategies to engage stakeholders at a time when Kenya Kwanza is having a hard time selling its ideas to Kenyans.
The Adani deal has been ferociously opposed by Kenyans across the board. Most citizens have questioned whether the deal is in the country’s best interests.
The Indian conglomerate expected to pump in Ksh238 billion to revamp JKIA in exchange for running the facility for 30 years during which Adani will recoup its investment.
On September 11, activities at JKIA and other airports across the country were paralysed as Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) staffers downed their tools to protest against the deal which they believe will render them jobless.
The airport workers want the deal dropped altogether.
Several stakeholders including the Kenya Human Rights Commission and Law Society of Kenya moved to court to stop the deal citing that leasing a strategic and profitable Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to a private entity is irrational.
The Adani conglomerate submitted the proposal to run the airport on 1 March 2024. The firm has since denied allegations that the proposal was cleared 17 days ago.
Apart from the JKIA, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir confirmed that Adani is close to reaching a deal with the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) to run select power lines.
Long queues witnessed at JKIA as KAA workers down tools.
Photo
Edwin Dande
