The Indian National Congress, through its spokesperson, Jairam Ramesh, has objected to the proposed Adani Airport Holdings Limited deal to take over the operations of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as “a matter of grave concern.”
The proposed public-private partnership deal between Adani Group and the government of Kenya has raised serious concerns among Kenyans, especially the Kenya Airports Authority workers, who have strongly protested the agreement.
Kenya Airport Authority officials (16 of them) travelled to India on Tuesday, as Adani eyes its official takeover debut in November. In a protest against the agreement’s ongoing ratification, KAA employees, led by the Kenya Airport Workers Union (KAWU), put down their tools earlier this month.
Adani is set to take over the operations of the airport through its Kenyan-established subsidiary called Airport Infrastructure PLC (AIP). AIP will carry out the full operations of the airport, maintain, design, develop, and construct as indicated on the deal.
Airport workers have maintained that Adani’s takeover will lead to an influx of non-native workers, which could trigger job losses, given the company’s irregular reputation in foreign countries.
The Congress Spokesperson echoed his fear of the protesters’ direct anger toward India and the Indian government as he chides PM Modi’s relationship with Gautam Adani, which is globally known, according to the post by the Times of India.
“This is a matter of grave concern for India because the non-biological PM’s friendship with Mr. Adani is now globally well known. The protests can therefore easily convert into anger against India and the Indian Government,” Ramesh said.
“Today, the PM’s collusion with the Adani group has contributed to the diminishing of this strength and unprecedented reversals for India on the global stage—just one of the many sacrifices the country has had to make at the altar of the non-biological PM’s special friendship,” he added.
Ramesh also added that Adani Group’s involvement in neighboring Bangladesh with Sheikh Hasina was one of the issues that led to her ouster of Hasina by the angry civilians. He was referring to Bangladesh’s government contract to purchase power from Adani’s coal plant in Jharkhand.
On the other hand, Kenya’s government, through it’s spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura, has debunked the claims that Ruto’s administration has sold JKIA to a foreign investor, terming it “ falsehood on social media.”
He said that the takeover by the Indian-based private investor was due to the deteriorating condition of the airport in the past 45 years and it’s inability to handle the traffic spiked passenger capacity since last year, which taints Nairobi as a major hub in the region and international organizations.
He also highlighted the infrastructural degradations, such as the leaking of rooftops and frequent power outages, “which have caused international embarrassment and have highlighted the need for modernization.”
“Several incidents, including leaking rooftops and power outages, have underscored the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades at JKIA. The airport suffers from insufficient aircraft parking, outdated passenger terminals and baggage handling systems, and inefficient passenger and cargo processing, resulting in long waiting times and operational disruptions.”
