Esther Passaris Defends Adani Takeover of JKIA

11 September 2024

• The strike has been building up for weeks now and followed a notice issued by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) on August 12.

Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris has voiced her support for Adani Group's bid to take over JKIA airport.

Speaking to the media, Passaris stressed that the government should be open to discussing the project with the public.

"I hope we will be able to resolve the issue. As a government, we should be able to sit and discuss it. Kenyans should also understand what the Adanis are offering. I have actually been to Ahmedabad Airport, as that is where I go for my medical checks. The airport was developed by the Adani. Four years ago, it was a mediocre airport; today, it is a five-star facility. One of the biggest challenges we face is that when you have an idea or win a tender, many others will also want that contract," Passaris remarked.

She concluded, "The government should break down the details so that people can understand the extent of the investment the Adanis are making in the airport."

The strike, which has been building up for weeks, follows a notice issued by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) on August 12, opposing the proposed leasing of JKIA to the Indian conglomerate Adani Group.

This also came after talks between the union and government officials reportedly collapsed. KAWU Secretary-General Moss Ndiema raised concerns that the deal could lead to massive layoffs, the introduction of foreign workers, and worsening working conditions.

Additionally, the union demanded the resignation of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Board of Directors and three senior managers, citing incompetence and mishandling of the leasing agreement.

A brief respite occurred when KAWU announced a seven-day postponement of the strike on August 31, following KAA's partial concession of providing the requested concession documents. Despite this, the situation deteriorated quickly.

Ten days later, with no significant response from KAA, the unionized workers from both entities resumed their protest. KAWU stated that they would only reconsider their strike if the proposed sale of JKIA was fully abandoned and if the KAA board and managers resigned as demanded.

The union attributed the drastic measure to the State’s failure to provide the required documentation. This staff action follows a recent High Court decision to temporarily halt the proposed leasing of the airfield.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) challenged the deal, arguing that the 30-year lease to the Indian company was irrational and violated principles of good governance, accountability, transparency, and prudent use of public funds.

Under the Sh246 billion deal, the Adani Group would upgrade the airport, including constructing a second runway and a new passenger terminal, under a 30-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract.

The firm would also handle renovations and refurbishments and manage JKIA, Kenya’s largest aviation facility, and East Africa’s busiest airport.

The government has defended the deal, stating that JKIA is currently operating beyond its capacity of 7.5 million passengers annually and requires urgent improvements.

It added that modernizing JKIA could cost $2 billion, which the government is unable to fund due to budget constraints.