Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary has addressed the reports about Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) being sold.
Speaking on Tuesday July 23 before a Parliamentary Committee, Mudavadi clarified that the airport is not for sale.
“Let me discount immediately that the airport, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, is not on sale. This is a public asset; it is a strategic asset,” Mudavadi stated.
“And if it was going to be sold, you can only do it after a full public process that parliament endorses,” he added.
Mudavadi acknowledged the need for modernization at JKIA, mentioning previous plans for a new terminal that never materialized due to contractual and litigation issues.
“You remember there was a greenfield terminal, but it never took off. The contractual engagement had its challenges. Yeah. There was litigation, it stalled,” he noted.
Occupy JKIA Protests
Youths from across Kenya are planning to occupy Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other major roads today, demanding accountability and integrity from their leaders.
The protests, led by Generation Z, aim to pressure the government into ensuring transparency in its operations and decision-making processes.
Also Read: Police IG Lists Protected Areas Around JKIA Ahead of Protests; Sends Warning
In his submissions, Mudavadi asked the Kenya Airports Authority to scrutinize its investment program carefully.
Mudavadi stressed the importance of transparency in the expansion of the second terminal, particularly if it involves a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
“Make sure that everything is transparent so that during the expansion process of the second terminal, if it is under PPP arrangement, let it be done properly, thoroughly through the legal process so that everybody knows what is going on,” Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi On Nairobi as a Logistical hub.
Mudavadi also highlighted long-term strategic plans to position Nairobi as a logistical hub.
He mentioned ongoing discussions with United Nations offices in Nairobi, aiming to create a network of logistical hubs from JKIA to Mombasa and Naivasha.
Also Read: LIVE UPDATES: Heavy Police Deployed at Multiple JKIA Entrances Ahead of Demos
“Apart from just the new terminal that will come up, we want to create Jomo Kenyatta International Airport have part of Mombasa at the port and have all through to Naivasha. Logistics hubs that meet certain standards so that the United Nations can use this destination Kenya as a logistical hub for their operations.”
As the youth-led protests continue, the government’s handling of these demands and the response to the protestors will be closely watched.
The call for accountability and integrity echoes the sentiments of a generation eager for change and transparency in their country’s governance.
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