Kenya Court Blocks Controversial Adani Airport Deal

Kenya's High Court has intervened decisively to halt a highly controversial agreement involving the Adani Group from India, which was poised to take control of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). This ruling has been warmly welcomed by critics and is being hailed as a significant victory for the citizens of Kenya.

The Adani Group had been engaged in negotiations with the Kenyan government, proposing an investment of $1.85 billion in return for a 30-year lease on JKIA, which serves as the primary airport in the nation. However, this proposed deal has ignited substantial backlash, with detractors contending that it could result in job losses for local employees and deprive the country of future income generated by the airport.

JKIA is vital to Kenya's economic landscape, as the fees collected from both freight and passenger traffic at the airport contribute more than five percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

On Monday, the Law Society of Kenya, alongside the Kenya Human Rights Commission, initiated legal action against this deal. They contended that the agreement breached essential principles of good governance, transparency, and the responsible management of public funds.

Additionally, they expressed serious concerns regarding the lack of accountability associated with the deal.

In light of these arguments, the High Court has granted their request to temporarily suspend the agreement while awaiting a conclusive ruling, although no specific date has been established for this decision.

The Kenyan government has defended the arrangement, asserting that it is crucial for the modernization of JKIA. The airport, which processed 8.8 million passengers and 380,000 tonnes of cargo during the 2022-2023 period, is recognized as one of Africa's busiest aviation hubs. However, it frequently suffers from issues such as power outages and infrastructure problems, including leaking roofs.

As part of the proposed investment, the Adani Group intended to construct a second runway and enhance the passenger terminal facilities.

Despite these assurances, Ochiel Dudley, a lawyer representing the Law Society and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, expressed relief regarding the court's ruling, stating that it represents a triumph for the Kenyan populace, whose concerns had been overlooked by political leaders eager to proceed with what many perceived as a dubious agreement.

In the meantime, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union, which had previously threatened to initiate a strike in response to the agreement, has postponed its planned walkout on two occasions, thereby allowing additional time for negotiations to take place.