The Senate Roads and Transport Committee experienced a stormy session on Monday as Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi faced tough scrutiny over the proposed takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by Adani Airport Holdings. During the heated proceedings, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka spearheaded the opposition, raising concerns about the transparency of the deal and accusing Mbadi of shielding the Indian conglomerate from scrutiny.
Senator Onyonka tabled letters from other companies, including GMR from India and Nexus Logic from the United States, both of which had expressed interest in the project. He questioned why their proposals were overlooked in favor of Adani’s, casting doubts on the integrity of the selection process. The letters, which had been stamped by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), contradicted Mbadi’s claim that no other formal bids had been received, triggering a tense back-and-forth between the senator and the Treasury CS.
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Joining the fray, Senators Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi) and Samson Cherargei (Nandi) echoed Onyonka’s concerns, accusing Mbadi of gatekeeping for Adani. Their remarks led to fiery exchanges, prompting a walkout by Sifuna, Cherargei, and Onyonka in protest. Despite efforts by Senator Karungo Thangwa, who chaired the session, to restore order, the tensions persisted.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah further intensified the grilling by pointing out inconsistencies in the explanations provided by both Mbadi and officials from the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Directorate. He questioned Mbadi’s knowledge of the process and raised doubts about the reasons for considering only Adani’s proposal.
Mbadi, in his defense, stressed that the process was still in the negotiation phase. He assured the committee that due diligence was ongoing to assess Adani’s capacity to handle the project, emphasizing that no binding Project Development Agreement had been signed. Despite his assurances, the mood in the Senate remained combative as senators expressed dissatisfaction with his responses.
PPP Director General Christopher Kirigua attempted to clarify the issue, stating that while other companies had shown initial interest, Adani’s proposal was the only formal submission received by the National Treasury as of April 2023. Kirigua’s clarification, however, did little to ease the senators’ concerns.
Senator Edwin Sifuna raised procedural issues, pointing out that the proposal had been forwarded by the Transport Principal Secretary, Mohammed Dhagar, rather than by the Kenya Airports Authority, as required. This, according to Sifuna, cast further doubt on the legitimacy of the deal, prompting him to question whether the proposal was authorized.
Senator Samson Cherargei pressed Mbadi on Adani’s broader interests in Kenya, noting the conglomerate’s potential expansion into other sectors. Mbadi denied knowledge of any such plans, further straining his defense of the deal.
In a surprising twist, Nominated Senator Peris Tobiko compared the situation to an ongoing airport project in Rwanda, which she claimed was being constructed at a much lower cost. Tobiko questioned why Kenya seemed intent on granting preferential treatment to Adani, particularly when more cost-effective options existed.
Despite the barrage of questions, Mbadi reiterated that the deal was far from being finalized and that thorough vetting processes were in place. He assured the Senate that critical government bodies, including the Kenya Airports Authority and the State Law Office, were actively involved in the negotiations.
It was evident that the senators remained unconvinced. The controversial JKIA takeover deal has raised broader concerns about transparency, foreign influence, and the prioritization of national interests in key infrastructure projects.
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