‘Kenyans Are Clueless’ – ODM’s Passaris Says Thumping Up For Adani-JKIA Deal
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris defended the controversial Adani takeover deal on Wednesday morning, describing it as a “potential game changer for airports in Kenya”.
Passaris, speaking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), stated that Kenyans should educate themselves more about the benefits of the deal.
Passaris urged Kenyans not to react to popular sentiments, which have seen Kenyans across the country express strong opposition to the deal.
“Kenyans need to understand what the Adani group will provide. I have been to Ahmedabad Airport (India) that was done by Adani,” Passaris stated.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris stranded at JKIA; defends Adani airport takeover bid pic.twitter.com/aFaReZ0ite
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) September 11, 2024
“The first time I went to Ahmedabad airport, four years ago, it was a mediocre airport, today it’s one of the five-star airports.”
The mentally unstable MP announced that she was leaving the country for Johannesburg, where she is scheduled to represent Kenya at a Pan-African Parliament forum.
Passaris went on to praise the value of the infrastructure Adani built around the Ahmedabad airport.
She believes that the only negative aspect of the deal is the Kenya Kwanza government’s unwillingness to clarify the terms of the agreement and educate Kenyans about its benefits.
Esther Passaris defends Adani takeover JKIA pointing out that Ahmedabad Airport has been done by the Adani Group and it is a five-star airport. Our leaders led by Osoro are also supporting the move. #Maandamano is the only language the govt listens to. #StopAdani #OccupyJKIA pic.twitter.com/E3TM981nc3
— Mukuru News (@MukuruSPA) September 11, 2024
“When you try and have a big contract, there are many people who want that contract,” she stated.
“The government should come clear and that’s why we have a government spokesperson, to break it down and help people understand how much money are they gonna put into the airport.”
Workers at Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) downed their tools in protest of the deal.
The workers demanded that the government provide them with documents detailing the terms of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s agreement with the Indian company.
Beginning at midnight, the workers staged a protest by camping at JKIA. Determined to make their voices heard, the workers continued to demonstrate until Wednesday midmorning.
Workers from other Kenyan airports joined the protests, effectively shutting down operations at Mombasa and Kisumu.
As the strikes continued, the Kenyan government, through its aviation regulator, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), sent a notice of delayed flights to all pilots.
The government has defended the deal, insisting that it is necessary to bring JKIA up to the required standard, despite the fact that infrastructure at the national facility is light years behind where it should be.
“Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), a key national asset constructed in 1978 and managed by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), has seen significant infrastructure deterioration over the past 45 years,” Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura stated on September 5.
Before being reassigned to the Sports docket, CS Kipchumba Murkomen was forced to personally inspect the JKIA’s infrastructure.
The CS was at pains to explain why the facility flooded multiple times and why the national facility had to deal with frequent power outages.
However, Kenyans have insisted that the government disclose the terms of the agreement.
‘Kenyans Are Clueless’ – ODM’s Passaris Says Thumping Up For Adani-JKIA Deal
