President William Ruto has dismissed reports suggesting that the government plans to sell the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to a private investor.
Speaking during a Townhall conversation in Mombasa on Sunday, Ruto clarified that the government’s strategy involves a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to upgrade the airport, not an outright sale.
“The airport we have in Nairobi is currently using a canvas structure in the arrivals area, which was meant to be temporary and has been in place for nearly seven years,” Ruto stated. “Countries like Ethiopia and Rwanda have recently built new airports. This underscores the need for us to collaborate with investors to develop a modern facility.”
Ruto emphasized that the PPP approach is the best way to attract both foreign and local investment, enabling the necessary upgrades to JKIA without relinquishing control of this critical national asset.
“Am I a mad man? How do you sell a strategic national asset? You have to be insane,” he remarked. “What we want to do is to work under the PPP programme.”
The President’s comments come in response to public concern and speculation following reports that Adani Airports Holding Limited, an Indian firm, proposed a Ksh.242 billion investment to expand JKIA.
The proposal, which the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed receiving, includes the construction of a new passenger terminal, a second runway, and improvements to the taxiway and apron, under a 30-year JKIA Medium Term Investment Plan ratified by the Cabinet.
Ruto’s assurance that the airport will remain under Kenyan ownership while benefiting from international investment aims to allay fears of privatization and ensure that the public understands the government’s commitment to maintaining control over national infrastructure.
The PPP arrangement is expected to provide JKIA with the necessary resources to upgrade and expand its facilities, enhancing its status as a key aviation hub in the region.
