Aviation workers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have opened up on why they are opposed to the controversial takeover of Kenya’s top airport by Indian firm Adani.
This comes hot on the heels of fears that President William Ruto is forcing the deal down the throats of Kenyans despite widespread criticism and opposition. According to the workers at under the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), up to 30,000 Kenyans working at the airport could lose their jobs or be forced to apply afresh to the Indian firm.
The workers, who have now suspended by two weeks a strike that was due to start on August 19, 2024, say that there is no sufficient justification why the Kenya Airports Authority is handing over the JKIA to Adani Airport Holdings for a period of 30 years.
The JKIA workers argue that based on what Adani has proposed to do at the JKIA, it is clear that KAA has capacity to run the airport without the involvement of a single-sourced private investor.
“Why should KAA go the public-private partnership way when it has the resources, it has the money to invest in its organization and expansion?” posed KAWU secretary general Moss Ndiema.
The JKIA workers added that KAA is financially stable and is one of the few profit-making parastatals. They said that Adani has not proposed to build a second runway at the airport which is a more needed investment, and has instead only proposed to refurbish and manage the airport.
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“Are we saying that KAA cannot refurbish the airport as it currently is? Is KAA unable to manage? If it is unable to manage, if management is a problem, it can be replaced. So there is no justification why the country is going the BPP way. KAA has money,” said Ndiema.
In addition, the workers accused the KAA of attempting to push the deal with Adani in secrecy. The KAA only came out publicly to acknowledge the takeover bid after the proposal was leaked on social media.
The JKIA workers further allege that there could be a secret deal by Adani to use the JKIA title to secure a loan from the Middle East.
“The question is, what makes it impossible for KAA, through the Government of Kenya, to secure a facility if they think they need a lot of money at once? Why get a third party to go and secure a loan for you and make that money appear as if it belongs to that company? That is wrong,” said KAWU.
“The fact that JKIA will be removed from Kenya, it will be removed from our hands. KAA employees will not own and operate JKIA for the next 30 years. That is as good as selling it.”