President William Ruto’s government has assured the country that Kenya’s interests and citizens will be protected in the proposed expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
In a detailed report by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, it was affirmed that the proposed Public Private Partnership (PPP) deal with Adani Holdings has not been signed, further allaying fears of any job cuts at the international airport.
According to the government, the Indian company had already made its proposal to the government which was being scrutinised by various government organs including the National Treasury.
“The proposal is currently undergoing the requisite due process, reviews and negotiations in compliance with the PPP Act whose control checks will cover; value for money assessment, stakeholder engagement, National Treasury approval, clearance by the Attorney General, Cabinet approval and, where required, approval by Parliament before any agreement can be signed.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, all terms and conditions of the proposed arrangement are subject to negotiation in accordance with the provisions of the PPP Act and no terms have been agreed upon as yet.
As and when the terms are agreed, there shall be appropriate safeguards to ensure that Kenya’s national interest prevails and that the private party is held fully accountable for the performance of its obligations,” read the statement in part.
Ruto’s government added that the proposal by the Indian company would be vetted by various security agencies given the security risks involved in the deal.
“In addition, given its status and the important role JKIA plays in national and international security and logistics, as well as being a gateway to a global multilateral hub, any proposal shall be subjected to the appropriate vetting by relevant security agencies,” read the report in part.
Further, the government explained why it had opted to undertake the expansion deal on PPP.
The government revealed that the expansion for JKIA was estimated to cost Ksh260 billion adding that the exchequer could not finance the project owing to the current financial situation of the country.
Ruto’s administration also detailed the international embarrassment that had befallen the country in recent weeks owing to leaking roofs and the substandard infrastructure for passengers.
“The airport is 10 years behind its development schedule as per its long-term masterplan and is lagging behind its regional competitors in terms of quality of infrastructure, innovation and technology. Numerous incidents have highlighted the need to upgrade the airport.
“These include leaking roofs that have caused international embarrassment and power outages that have disrupted operations significantly.
JKIA is also plagued by inadequate aircraft parking bays, outdated passenger terminals and baggage handling systems, and long waiting times due to inefficient passenger and cargo processing,” read the statement in part...CONTINUE READING>>
