"I Did Not Sell JKIA' - Kipchumba Murkomen Clears Up Misunderstandings About JKIA Deal

Sports CS nominee Kipchumba Murkomen takes oath ahead of his appearance before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments for vetting on August 3, 2024. PHOTO | COURTESY

Kipchumba Murkomen, who is nominated for the position of Sports, Youth Affairs, and Creative Economy Cabinet Secretary, has addressed concerns about a deal involving the renovation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

This deal, proposed by Adani Holdings, has been the subject of much speculation and confusion.

Murkomen recently appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments to explain the deal’s process. 

He clarified that the deal is part of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement, which involves multiple stages and requires input from various agencies and stakeholders.

According to Murkomen, such a deal cannot be decided by one individual alone, including someone in his position.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is currently reviewing the proposal from Adani Holdings to determine if it meets the necessary standards. 

Once KAA completes its review, the proposal will be forwarded to a PPP directorate at the National Treasury. This directorate will then consider public opinions before moving forward.

Murkomen emphasized that if the proposal is deemed acceptable, it will proceed to a contracting authority, which will communicate with the Transport ministry.

The next step involves the CS writing to the Attorney General, who will review the deal and send it to the Treasury CS. After this, the deal will be discussed in the Cabinet, and approval will only be given if everything is in order.

Murkomen assured the public that he does not have the authority or capacity to unilaterally sell JKIA. 

He stressed that the deal is not yet signed and that the process is transparent and inclusive. He also mentioned that public participation was planned for July but was postponed due to anti-government protests.

Drawing a parallel to the Nairobi Expressway project, Murkomen explained that the JKIA deal follows a similar process.

He noted that the Expressway project, which involved a partnership with a Chinese firm, was successful and had a 30-year contract before being returned to the government.