Kalonzo expressed his concerns about the secrecy surrounding the deal, stating that it goes against the principles of transparency and openness required by law.
Speaking in Nairobi on Saturday, Kalonzo emphasized that the lack of public involvement in the deal raises serious trust issues.
He recalled that during President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, under the Vision 2030 initiative, there was a plan to build a second runway at JKIA. However, this was done with openness and not behind closed doors.
"JKIA is a critical national asset, and any decisions about its future must be made through an open and transparent process,” Kalonzo said.
He also added that a proper public discussion was necessary to ensure the best outcome for the country. Kalonzo was clear in his demand: the government should cancel the proposal entirely.
The former Vice President was particularly critical of the government's decision to engage in single sourcing, which he described as illegal. Single sourcing, the practice of awarding contracts without competitive bidding, contradicts the laws meant to promote openness and transparency in public deals.
"This is single sourcing, which is against the law of transparency. You can't work in secrecy, and now the government is talking about public participation only after people started protesting. My advice is simple — scrap the whole thing!" he stated firmly.
Kalonzo’s remarks align with sentiments expressed by members of the Senate, who have also voiced their opposition to the Adani Group’s proposed takeover of JKIA.
On Friday, senators called for the cancellation of the deal, citing concerns about its potential impact on airport workers and the Kenyan public.
During a recent Senate session, Transport and Roads Cabinet Secretary (CS) Davis Chirchir was summoned to provide more details about the agreement.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) workers had earlier gone on strike, fearing they could lose their jobs if the deal went through. The workers, through their union, Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), demanded more information about the deal and sought assurances that their jobs would not be at risk.
In response, Chirchir clarified that the Adani Group's proposal is still in its early stages. He explained that it is not yet a finalized contract but a suggestion for refurbishing JKIA and operating it for 30 years.
According to the CS, the proposal aims to expand the airport's capacity to 23 million passengers and build a new terminal. He assured that the next steps involve public engagement and discussions with stakeholders.
"It's just a proposal, not a contract yet. The process is still ongoing, and we are currently in the stage of stakeholder engagement," Chirchir told the Senate.
However, the senators and KAWU remained skeptical. Senator Okiyah Omtatah of Busia expressed fears that the proposal could be used to embezzle public funds.
Omtatah went further, suggesting that the deal might be a cover for financial misconduct, allowing money stolen from public projects to be repatriated through the deal.
Meanwhile, the KAWU workers, whose strike on Wednesday disrupted operations at JKIA, have temporarily suspended their protest. After negotiations mediated by Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli, the union and the government agreed that no deal with Adani Group would be signed without the union's input.
Additionally, the workers demanded that no legal action be taken against them for participating in the strike, and that the court case against their union be withdrawn.
In the coming weeks, KAWU plans to review the Adani deal documents and hold further meetings with the government. The outcome of these discussions will determine the next steps regarding the future of JKIA.
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