The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) have issued 14 days for the government to provide comprehensive details on alleged plans to lease out the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
In a notice directed to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the lobby groups on Tuesday demanded copies of documents including minutes of all meetings held by the government on the alleged deal.
According to the two groups, the government must provide full Information on how the agreement to lease the airport was reached and procured with the multinational company.
The lobby groups also demanded copies of the feasibility study and report on the financial sustainability of the deal and a copy of the contract signed between the two institutions.
While issuing the demands, the groups expressed concerns about the monetary value of the deal, its transparency, and the legality of the agreement reached between the government and the Indian company.
LSK and the KHRC warned that failure by the government to provide the above information within 14 days would lead to them filing a petition.
According to the lobby groups, the request for the details of the alleged deal was in line with the requirements in the constitution under Articles 35(1) and (3) which allows access to information.
“Please supply us with this information within 14 days of our letter considering the public interest in this manner,” read part of the notice.
“In default, our clients will sue to enforce this request at your additional cost.”
The demand for information over alleged plans to sell the JKIA comes hardly a day after the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi dismissed the allegations.
While addressing parliamentarians on Monday, July 22, Mudavadi noted it was impossible to sell the airport since it was a public and strategic asset.
“Let me put it clearly that the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is not on sale. If it was to be sold then it can only be done after a full public process,” Mudavadi clarified.
