President William Ruto has reaffirmed the government’s dedication to upgrading Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), even after terminating the multi-million-shilling deal with the Adani Group due to legal constraints.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ksh11 billion Devki iron ore pelletization plant in Manga, Taita Taveta County, on Tuesday, President Ruto assured Kenyans that the critical upgrade of the airport would move forward under a new framework.

“I want to assure Kenyans that a new airport will be constructed. Some people celebrated when the deal was cancelled, yet the airport roof is leaking and in a bad state. Other countries are building their airports, but we are opposing and celebrating. Surprisingly, the critics don’t have an alternative plan or proposal for this issue,” President Ruto stated.

The President explained that the Adani deal was cancelled due to legal restrictions that prevent the government from engaging with investors facing specific legal challenges. 

However, he expressed confidence in finding new investors to execute the project. 

“We may have stopped the Adani deal, but that does not mean we will not upgrade the airport. I was confident he was going to build our airport and do a good job,” he added.

Despite these assurances, the fallout from the deal’s cancellation has sparked significant scrutiny. 

Last week, both the National Assembly and the Senate sought concrete evidence confirming the termination of the agreement between the Kenyan government and the Gautam Adani firms.

The issue was debated in the Senate for three consecutive days, with Senators demanding details about the new information President Ruto relied on to justify the termination. 

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch criticized the lack of transparency, stating, “Even after the President’s cancellation, doubts remain about the details of the contracts involved in this Adani Group deal.”

Senators also expressed concern that the President’s failure to disclose specific evidence has done more harm than good, raising questions about the administration’s handling of the matter. 

They emphasized the need for a transparent roadmap to ensure public accountability as the government seeks new investors for the critical airport upgrade.

The controversy highlights the tension between addressing legal and procedural challenges and maintaining public trust in delivering essential infrastructure projects like JKIA’s modernization.