Esther Passaris Defends Government Stand On Adani's Take Over

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has come out boldy to defene the government’s decision to lease the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Adani Group.

According to Esther Passaris many Kenyans do not have an  understanding on what the Adani Group is planning to do at the Jommo Kenyatta International airport.

“I have been to Ahmedabad Airport in India several times and it has been done by the Adani Group. The first time I went to the airport four years ago it was a mediocre airport. Today it is a five-star airport,” she said.

Passaris  who was speaking to the media at JKIA hoping to catch a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa for the Pan-African Parliament meeting which starts on Monday, expressed hopes the ongoing strike at the airport over the Adani deal would end soon.

“That is why we had the Government Spokesman come in to break down everything so the people understand everything. How much money are they going to put in refurbishing the airport, what are they going to do for the terminals, are we going to have an airport as good as the one we have in Dubai,” she said.

Adani Enterprises Limited submitted a proposal on March 1, 2024, to take over the running and management of JKIA.,The High Court has since issued a stay prohibiting any person from implementing or acting on the privately initiated Adani proposal over JKIA pending the conclusion of the case.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) moved to court to block the controversial takeover of JKIA by India’s Adani Enterprises.

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at Kenya’s main airport after workers went on strike over a planned takeover by the Indian company.

In June, the government approved the relevant aviation policies, giving Adani a head start on the planned expansion of JKIA.

Adani group has pledged a Sh238 billion investment to "upgrade and expand" the airport.