The proposed takeover of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by Indian firm Adani Group has taken a fresh twist following concerns raised by India’s Congress.
Indian National Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh in a statement on September 3, 2024, raised concerns following protests from Aviation workers in Kenya over the takeover.
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The secretary criticized the proposal and termed it as a move that could “convert into anger against India and the Indian Government”.
“This is a matter of grave concern for India, because the non-biological PM’s friendship with Mr. Adani is now globally well known. The protests can therefore easily convert into anger against India and the Indian Government,” said Ramesh.
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“The Adani Group’s proposed takeover of the airport in Nairobi, Kenya, has led to widespread protests in the country, with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union calling for a strike to demonstrate its opposition.”
Ramesh cited recent projects by the billionaire group in neighboring countries that led to protests against their respective governments.
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India’s Congress Speaks on Adani-JKIA Takeover
The secretary further highlighted that former Bangladeshi’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina government’s contract to purchase power from Adani’s coal plant in Jharkhand was one of the boiling points which led to her resignation.
“The Bangladesh Government’s contract to purchase power from Adani’s coal plant in Jharkhand, for instance, became a flashpoint in the protests that led to PM Sheikha Hasina’s resignation last month,” he added.
“Today, the PM’s collusion with the Adani group has contributed to the diminishing of this strength and unprecedented reversals for India on the global stage – just one of the many sacrifices the country has had to make at the altar of the non-biological PM’s special friendship.”
Also Read: Aviation Workers Issue Demands on Adani Group’s Activities at JKIA
The remarks by the Congress General Secretary came after Adani Enterprises established a Kenyan subsidiary to intensify its efforts to take over the management of JKIA.
Adani Group launched a new company in Kenya named Airports Infrastructure PLC (AIP) through its step-down subsidiary Global Airports Operator L.L.C (GAO), with the intention of managing, upgrading, and modernizing airports in the country.
The company made the announcement through a notice dated August 30, in an official communication to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE).
Although Adani is yet to begin business operations, the company has been registered under the Companies Act of 2015 and is fully owned by Global Airports Operator L.L.C.
Also, no cash consideration or share swap was involved in the creation of this subsidiary, as the entire share capital is held by GAO.
Also Read: Passengers Stranded at JKIA After Chaos
The Adani Group has emphasized that the establishment of AIP is a significant step towards enhancing airport infrastructure in Kenya, although details about specific projects or timelines have not yet been revealed.
Airport workers threaten to strike
On the other hand, the move comes at a time when the potential leasing of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Adani has sparked uproar among stakeholders in Kenya, particularly among the Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) workers and unions.
Last month, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) had called upon the government to scrap the “unlawful intended sale of JKIA to Adani Airport Holdings of India.”
The government has consistently assured the workers that the airport is not for sale and clarified that no decision had been made regarding the proposed public-private partnership aimed at upgrading the hub.
However, KAA workers went on strike at the airport on Monday to protest Gautam Adani’s proposal to take over the airport, citing ongoing concerns about job security.
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