WATCH: JKIA Workers Celebrate After Ruto Cancels Adani Deal

Celebrations rang the social media atmosphere but no group was as elated as aviation workers, especially those at JKIA

WATCH: JKIA Workers Celebrate After Ruto Cancels Adani Deal
JKIA workers celebrate following cancellation of Adani deals by President William Ruto on November 21, 2024. /VIRAL TEA KE

It is often said that joy comes in the morning. However, we are living in a world where events have come thick and fast, and in real-time, thus enjoyment comes at any moment, at least that is what workers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya will tell you.

President William Ruto on Thursday, November 21 in his State of the Nation Address stopped with immediate effect the takeover of an ongoing Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the government and the Adani Group over the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), a matter that caught many Kenyans by surprise.

Celebrations rang the social media atmosphere but no group was as elated as aviation workers, especially those at JKIA, given that the Ksh260 billion deal for the upgrade of the country's largest airport, which was at an advanced stage, brought Adani to the national limelight and triggered the most uproar.

In a video obtained by Viral Tea, the workers all dressed in uniform were captured singing a praise and worship song in jubilation, dancing in excitement over the directive that stopped the PPP in its tracks, which would have put their jobs at serious risk.

Here is the video:

The JKIA-Adani deal was heavily defended by President Ruto's administration as Kenyans questioned its credibility and why the government was so insistent on allowing Adani to proceed with the takeover of JKIA for 30 years.

In fact, before Adani landed in trouble with the United States (US) government, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir assured that the government conducted thorough due diligence on Adani Group, which the High Court has temporarily barred from assuming control of JKIA.

He stated on November 14, 2024, that Adani Group had not been involved in any acts of corruption, its directors have clean criminal records, and the company was fully tax compliant.

“Adani has not been barred by any country, has no history of corruption based on our due diligence, is solvent, and is tax compliant in all jurisdictions where it operates. Its directors have not faced criminal convictions related to professional conduct within the last five years and have not been disqualified due to any administrative suspension or debarment proceedings,” Chirchir told Parliament.

Expanding JKIA has been seen as an overdue move by the government, but leasing it to Adani for a period of up to 30 years drew massive uproar, especially over the contents of the deal, some of which caused anxiety among JKIA workers who feared that the conglomerate could implement a restructuring of its workforce.

Adani had committed to a Ksh238 billion investment to upgrade and expand the airport. Several stakeholders including the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Law Society of Kenya (LSK) however moved to court to stop the deal citing that leasing a strategic and profitable JKIA to a private entity with questionable past reputation is irrational.

A High Court order issued on September 9, 2024, blocked the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) from moving ahead with its decision to lease JKIA to Adani, pending a judicial review filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).

Speaking in reaction to the President's decision, National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi revealed that the deals the Kenyan government had with Indian-based conglomerate Adani Group were still in the early stages.

"Let me make it clear that PPP is a very important process and is necessary and timely. However, there are processes to be followed when procuring," the CS said, adding "The Adani deals have been through Privately-Initiated Proposals (PiP) and the beauty is that it can be stopped at any stage before negotiations are concluded."

The CS, spilling the beans, revealed that the State discovered inconsistencies after conducting due diligence on Adani, with partnering agencies raising questions regarding the Indian conglomerate. This was in light of the United States (US) government indicting its founder Gautam Adani and several directors in a Ksh32 billion ($250 million) bribery case. 

Meanwhile, woes have worsened for Adani after the US federal court issued a warrant of arrest against him.

A collage of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) (background) and chairman of Adani Group Gautam Adani. /VIRAL TEA KE