Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka on Friday boldly took on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over the deal the Kenyan government has struck with Indian conglomerate Adani to take over the running of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
In line with the overall script in recent weeks that has seen the issue become a hot political potato, the matter took centre stage at a funeral in Trans Nzoia County attended by Gachagua.
After concluding his remarks after taking over the podium, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka seized the opportunity to make his voice heard, this time making his opposition to the Adani deal crystal clear to the country’s second in command. Onyonka told the DP to his face that proceeding with the agreement shrouded in secrecy is plainly unacceptable.
“Your Excellency, how can we sell our airports? How can we take 14 airstrips and give them to an Indian company, nobody knows about the agreement and what has been signed,” the senator claimed without substantiating his airstrips remark.
The Senator further went on to ask Gachagua what is going to happen to the over 5,000 Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) employees should the government forge ahead with the deal.
“We have 5000 employees with the Kenya Airport Authority and nobody knows where these people are going,” Onyonka continued.
Onyonka went on to send the DP to President William Ruto. The Senator wants Gachagua to inform his boss that Kenyans have an issue with his policies. He boldly asked Gachagua and Ruto to take care of the country.
Despite widespread opposition to the deal, the government has thus far, mounted a spirited defense of what lies behind the documents where the ink lies.
According to government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, the national airport, has been neglected for years, making upgrades an absolute priority.
Some of the changes proposed to be carried out, according to Mwaura, include the construction of a new runway, a new passenger terminal, refurbishment of existing passenger terminals, and luggage handling facilities.
The agreement which has not been made public will see the Adani Group Holdings build, operate, and later hand over the facility back to the government after recouping its investment.
The group is reported to be planning to invest at least Ksh96 billion to upgrade the airport. However, the deal has triggered protests from airport workers, prompting the Labour Cabinet Secretary to personally visit the facility to quell the simmering discontentment.
Shifting his attention to the university funding model, the Senator advised Gachagua to ask President Ruto to abandon the system altogether….CLICK HERE FOR MORE ARTICLE>>>
