Transport Cabinet Secretary nominee Davis Chirchir on Friday faulted the government for failing to conduct public participation in its deal with an Indian company on the revamp of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Chirchir, while addressing the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments, vowed to make amendments to the deal before the commencement of the refurbishment works.
The former CS reiterated that once appointed as Transport CS, he would immediately order comprehensive public participation in the deal to allow the input of Kenyans.
According to Chirchir, the recent demonstrations outside Kenya's main airport were a result of poor communication by the government.
“There is a need to inculcate public participation from inception so that we do not find ourselves in a situation where we do what we believe is right for the country but the population does not quite understand,” Chirchir reiterated.
According to the former Energy CS, Kenyans have the right to access information as stipulated in the constitution.
“I think this govt feels like information can only be given out when they have been pushed to give information. This is causing pain today even on the ruling that was issued yesterday,” Chirchir stated.
"We need to carry Kenyans with us in some of the things that we do like in Gto G, in G to G we tried our best to explain it to Kenyans," Chirchir stated.
Chirchir's sentiments come barely a week after the Kenya Airports Authority dismissed allegations of planning to sell the iconic airport to the Indian-based multinational conglomerate.
In a statement, KAA clarified that it had only reached a Public-Private partnership with the company for repair works within the airport.
The Authority disclosed that the agreement with the company included the construction of a new passenger terminal, the establishment of a second runway and the refurbishment of the existing facilities within the airport.
"The attendant investment requirement is significant and cannot be funded with the prevailing fiscal constraints without recourse to private funding," the Authority noted in a statement.
