KAA-Adani Deal: Court Blocks Any Party From Implementing Proposal To Lease JKIA

• An Indian firm, Adani Airports Holdings, submitted a proposal to Kenya Airports Authority to run Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)
• The 30-year deal received opposition from the public that saw the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) challenge it in court
• The High Court issued conservatory orders against the implementation of Adani Group's proposal to lease JKIA

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia has over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting and offers deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Law Society of Kenya have secured a court order blocking the implementation of Adani Airports PLC's proposal to take over Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The Indian firm sought to lease JKIA in a public-private partnership aimed at expanding the airport infrastructure and run it for 30 years,

On Monday, September 9, High Court Judge J. Chigiti granted the prayers of KHRC and LSK and leave to file a judicial review challenging the lease proposal.

What court directed about Adani's proposal to run JKIA

Justice Chigiti also issued conservatory orders prohibiting any person from implementing or acting on the Adani proposal over JKIA pending the conclusion of the court case.

"The application dated 9.9.24 is hereby certified as urgent and the same is submitted for hearing during the court recess," Justice Chigiti directed.

The court directed the petitioners to file and serve the substantive application within 3 days and the respondents, including Kenya Airports Authority and Adani Enterprises, and the interested parties to file and serve their respective responses within five days of service.

"The Applicant shall thereafter file and serve its submissions within 3 days thereafter. The Respondents and the interested parties shall thereafter file and serve their respective submissions within 3 days of service," read the court directions in part.

The case will be mentioned on October 8, 2024, with a view to securing a judgment date.

According to KHRC and LSK's petition, Adani pledged KSh 238 billion to upgrade JKIA, an amount Kenya can raise without handing over control of the airport.

Ruto's govt welcomed Adani's proposal to run JKIA

The private firm issued its proposal to KAA in March 2024, and the government approved relevant aviation policies in June, giving it the go-ahead on the planned expansion.

Konya Airport Workers Union (KAWU) raised concerns over the deal, which led to a planned strike at JKIA.

KAWU lamented that the deal threatened job losses and offered taxpayers no value for money.

According to the deal, Adani Group would retain an 18% equity stake in JKIA's operations, giving it a concession fee of KSh 6 billion, with a 10% increase every five years.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke