The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) formally rejected the Adani Group’s investment and management proposal for Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Sunday, September 29, 2024. After several days of strikes, union members reviewed the project details and had ten days to make a decision, ultimately opting for rejection.
“Adani’s fraudulent deal must be cancelled,” declared Moss Ndiema, KAWU’s secretary general, condemning the agreement as “a scheme to plunder Kenyan public resources.” The Adani Group had proposed investing over $1.8 billion in modernizing JKIA, in exchange for an 18% stake in the airport’s infrastructure, a 30-year operational contract, and rights to surrounding land for hotel construction. The deal also included a favorable tax regime and a commitment from the Kenyan government not to develop any competing airports.
KAWU criticized the agreement as being unfavorable to Kenya and passed without a transparent bidding process, benefiting only a small elite close to those in power. This concern was echoed by others. Mohamed Hersi, former president of the Kenya Tourism Federation, took to social media, stating, “The agreement should include a second runway in the first five years and investment in our national carrier. Adani has prioritized hotels and shopping malls. We’re putting the cart before the horse.”
The proposal was subjected to a Senate hearing on Tuesday, and KAWU is expected to meet with government authorities later in the week to discuss their concerns further.