Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka confronted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on regarding the controversial agreement between the Kenyan government and Indian conglomerate Adani, which would see Adani take control of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
With the issue being a hot political topic in recent weeks, it came to the forefront during a funeral in Trans Nzoia County, where Gachagua was in attendance.
After his address, Senator Onyonka took the opportunity to voice his strong opposition to the Adani deal directly to Gachagua, criticizing the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement.
Onyonka expressed that it was unacceptable to proceed without public knowledge.
“Your Excellency, how can we sell our airports? How can we hand over 14 airstrips to an Indian company when no one knows the details of the deal?” the senator questioned, though he didn’t provide details about the airstrips.
Onyonka also raised concerns about the fate of over 5,000 Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) employees if the deal moves forward.
“We have 5,000 employees at Kenya Airports Authority, and no one knows what will happen to them,” he continued.
The senator urged Gachagua to relay these concerns to President William Ruto, pointing out that Kenyans are unhappy with certain policies.
He called on both leaders to prioritize the well-being of the country.
Despite strong opposition to the agreement, the government has staunchly defended its decision.
According to government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, JKIA has long been neglected, making its upgrade a top priority.
Mwaura highlighted planned improvements, including a new runway, passenger terminal, and upgraded luggage handling systems.
The undisclosed agreement with Adani Group involves the company building, operating, and eventually transferring the airport back to the government after recouping its investment.
The group is expected to inject at least Ksh96 billion into the upgrade.
However, the deal has led to protests from airport workers, prompting the Labour Cabinet Secretary to visit the facility to address the unrest.
On a separate note, Senator Onyonka also advised Gachagua to urge President Ruto to reconsider the current university funding model.
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