Nairobi County Woman Representative Esther Passaris has faced intense backlash after expressing support for the controversial takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by Indian conglomerate Adani Group.

On Wednesday, a section of Kenyans online criticized Passaris for defending the government's decision to lease JKIA to Adani Group. Speaking at the airport, Passaris endorsed the takeover, citing the group's successful transformation of Ahmedabad International Airport in India and suggesting that similar progress could be achieved at JKIA.



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Passaris asserted that Adani's changes in India elevated the airport from mediocrity to world-class standards, positioning it as a model for what could be achieved at JKIA.

However, her remarks sparked outrage among a segment of Kenyans, with many expressing disbelief that a public official would support what they referred to as a "hostile takeover." Some questioned whether Passaris fully grasped the technical implications of the JKIA-Adani deal, which has drawn concern from labor unions and the broader Kenyan public.

The Nairobi Woman Representative was criticized by some for appearing disconnected from the issues facing regular Kenyans, while others contended that she was profiting from bribes associated with the agreement. Others wondered why, if the agreement was genuinely in the best interests of the country, it had not been discussed in Parliament.