After a tense 10-hour shutdown at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the government finally caved to mounting pressure from aviation workers, forced to confront the growing unrest over the controversial Adani deal. In a hastily organized public address, President Ruto, through his Transport CS, found himself scrambling to quell the situation as aviation workers loudly voiced their discontent, drowning out his words with chants of “Adani must go!”
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir faced a tough crowd, trying and failing to calm the agitated workers, who had gathered to protest the government’s handling of the proposed 30-year lease deal of JKIA to Indian conglomerate Adani Holdings. The atmosphere was charged with frustration, with workers accusing the government of trying to quietly push through a deal that they felt reeked of secrecy and exploitation.
Hours later, after negotiations stretched late into the night, Chirchir, alongside workers’ union leader Moss Ndiema and Cotu boss Francis Atwoli, announced a breakthrough: a return-to-work agreement had been reached, and normal operations would resume not just at JKIA but also at airports in Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret, where passengers had been stranded for most of Wednesday.
A key part of the deal was the government’s concession to allow scrutiny of the Adani deal documents—previously kept under wraps—by giving the aviation workers’ union 10 days to review the paperwork. This came after weeks of public outcry and allegations that the government had been deliberately concealing the true terms of the agreement.
However, union leader Ndiema was quick to clarify that the return-to-work deal didn’t signal the workers’ approval of the Adani takeover. “This doesn’t mean we’re okay with the deal,” he insisted, underscoring that deeper concerns remained about the long-term implications of Adani’s involvement.
Among the most contentious points? Adani’s proposal to introduce policies that could drastically affect the current workforce, with plans to hire only a portion of the existing staff under new terms and conditions, and potentially bring in non-Kenyan workers. Furthermore, Adani sought significant tax exemptions and financial control over the airport’s operations, including the right to manage all revenues, expenses, and even security deposits.
The deal also proposed amendments to the Air Passenger Service Charge Act, allowing Adani to set their own service fees, a move that would strip the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) of a substantial portion of its revenue. Adani would also take over all non-aeronautical assets at JKIA, from duty-free shops to hotel services, and have the authority to impose their own charges on passengers.
Despite promising to invest $1.85 billion in upgrading JKIA, including constructing a new terminal and a second runway, many remain skeptical about the true costs of this deal. With projections of future revenue soaring from $163 million in 2025 to $1.2 billion by 2054, the stakes are high.
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