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Parliament Buildings, Tuesday, 24th September 2024
The Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs & Energy, led by Hon. David Pkosing (Pokot West), has directed the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to suspend all engagements with India’s Adani Group pending a special audit of the tender process. The decision follows growing concerns over the transparency of the single-source award of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) project to Adani.
Hon. Pkosing expressed disappointment over the erosion of public trust, stating, “This Committee cannot avoid a special audit. If this continues, JKIA will suffer.”
The Committee stressed the importance of public participation as mandated by the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Concerns were raised about the rapid conclusion of the tender process, with Hon. Pkosing questioning how Kenyans could trust a report completed in just one week.
KAA Acting CEO, Mr. Henry Ogoye, faced scrutiny from the Committee regarding the procurement process. He defended the process, citing a detailed feasibility study completed in February 2024. However, Ogoye admitted that no agreements with Adani had been signed due to ongoing lawsuits.
Committee members also called for clarification on KAA’s future, including staff concerns and the collaboration between private management and national airline operators. Hon. (Dr.) Keynan Adan (Eldas) raised alarms over the potential misuse of public resources, stating, “JKIA is Kenya, and messing it up is messing with Kenya.”
The Committee has requested a special audit from the Auditor General and will reconvene in 14 days to review the findings.
