Kenya's National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, recently addressed concerns surrounding the proposed 30-year concession for Indian conglomerate Adani Airport Holdings to manage Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Before the National Assembly's Public Investment Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy, Mbadi reassured the public that his office found no records linking Adani to corruption, stating, “I have no record of any corruption scandal by Adani.”

PHOTO | COURTESY CS John Mbadi

The deal has sparked intense public scrutiny and legal challenges, particularly over using a Private Initiated Proposal (PIP) instead of a competitive tendering process.

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Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap questioned this approach, but Mbadi responded that the proposal had undergone a thorough review and necessary amendments.

He also emphasized that no other company submitted a proposal that met the required standards, citing a lack of competitive expressions of interest.

PHOTO | COURTESY CS John Mbadi

Mbadi reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency and due process, ensuring the public-private partnership (PPP) model is lawful and open to public scrutiny. He acknowledged delays in the public consultation process, mainly due to a court order halting further discussions.

He also assured the committee that the government would consider alternative proposals if a better deal emerged. However, any new developer must compensate Adani for their current involvement.

PHOTO | COURTESY Adani

Mbadi stressed the importance of constructive public engagement, stating, “If Kenyans want to stop the deal, I can’t say no.”

The agreement still requires approval from the Attorney General and the Cabinet before moving forward.

As legal challenges continue, Mbadi's testimony emphasized the government's willingness to ensure a fair and transparent process while promoting private investment.