Friday, June 20, 2025 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has voiced disappointment over the cancellation of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) deal with Indian conglomerate, Adani Group.
Speaking on Friday, June 20th, during the 3rd
National Executive Retreat in Karen, Raila termed the cancellation as a missed
opportunity.
“I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on
with the Adani airport contract.”
“There was too much politicking that led to its
cancellation,” he said.
Raila warned that without strategic development around JKIA,
Nairobi risks stagnation.
In contrast, Raila praised Ethiopia’s bold plan to build a
major airport in Addis Ababa, saying it underscored the country's intent to
dominate regional air travel.
“Ethiopian Airlines is now the dominant airline in the
continent. Kenya Airways can also rise to that level and become the continent’s
national carrier,” he added.
The JKIA deal, which involved a 30-year concession to Adani
for development and management, was terminated in November 2024 by President
William Ruto.
The cancellation followed a U.S federal indictment of Adani
Group executives over a Ksh32 billion corruption scandal, including allegations
of bribery to secure contracts through fraudulent means.
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