Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has taken a swipe at the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for expressing his support for the defunct Adani Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Deal.
Speaking during the second day of the executive retreat on Friday, June 20, Odinga claimed that he was "disappointed" that the project was cancelled. According to Odinga, the cancellation of the project denied Nairobi and the country at large a golden opportunity to develop.
In a statement in his official X account on Saturday, June 22, Kalonzo claimed that he was "shocked" by Raila's statement. Musyoka stated that the statements projected him as a non-patriotic citizen.
"I’m shocked that Raila Odinga regrets its cancellation. How can any patriotic Kenyan mourn the end of an agreement that would have compromised our critical infrastructure? Our airports belong to Kenyans. Our sovereignty is not for sale. Such deals will never see the light of day in Kenya—not on our watch," Kalonzo said.
"This wasn't just about a business deal; it was about preventing the handover of our critical infrastructure to individuals facing serious legal challenges internationally," he added.
Under the deal, Kenya was to lease JKIA to Adani for the development, expansion, operation, maintenance, and management of the airport under a 30-year concession arrangement.
According to Odinga, elevating the standards of the country's largest airports would be key to attracting investors, tourists, and shoppers.
“I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the (Adani) airport contract. When Adani was brought in, there was all that politicking that resulted in its cancellation,” Raila said.
Raila had in the past expressed support for the Adani deal, stressing that Kenya's economic struggles were a key reason for embracing partnership with the Indian firm.
“If development around the airport is not done, Nairobi could end up becoming dormant,” Raila said.
In a statement on Saturday, June 21, the Motorist Association of Kenya urged Odinga to retract his support for the project, stressing that he had betrayed public trust.
"Every intelligent and patriotic Kenyan understands the danger posed by many of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deals currently being pursued and sealed," the association stated.
