JKIA at a Standstill as Workers Protest Against Adani Group Takeover
Key takeaways
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- Multiple flights have been reportedly delayed at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as Kenya Airports Authority employees staged demos.
- The workers hit the airport tarmac armed with placards and whistles to protest against the airport’s takeover by India-based conglomerate Adani Group.
- Through a letter dated August 30, Adani Group revealed it had acquired the airport through its Kenyan subsidiary Airports Infrastructure PLC.
- The protests happened despite an earlier postponement of the highly anticipated airport workers’ strike.
Also read: Top 5 airlines operating at JKIA
Airport workers stage a Monday morning demo against Adani Group takeover
The expansive Jomo Kenyatta International Airport grounds were on Monday morning the epicenter of protests by airport workers opposed to a foreign takeover of the country’s airports.
Adani Group, an India-based conglomerate is closing in to taking over operations at the JKIA and other airports in the country.
The angry airport workers are protesting against possible job losses should the Adani Group take over control of the critical infrastructure.
According to the protestors, Adani Group is set to bring foreign workers into Kenya’s airports under the guise of modernizing operations.
“We are protecting our airport. Adani must go!” protestors chanted as they abandoned their workstations and gathered along the Airport grounds.
Adani Group registers the Airports Infrastructure PLC in Kenya
Founded by Gautam Adani in 1988 as a commodity trading venture, the Group’s portfolio now spans sea and airport management, electricity, mining, natural gas, food, defense, and infrastructure.
Kenya is the next frontier for the Indian commercial giant as it seeks to take over, operate, maintain, design, develop, modernize, and manage the country’s Airports.
To carry out its operations in Kenya, Adani Group has established a new company named Airports Infrastructure PLC.
The possible takeover has attracted a furious reaction among airport employees and the general public.
Also read: Top 3 Flight Booking Apps in Kenya
JKIA was also the target of recent protests led by Kenya’s Gen Z who threatened to occupy the busiest airport in Eastern Africa.
According to the group of frustrated young protestors, the government’s decision to transfer control of the airport is disastrous and akin to infringing on the country’s sovereignty.
A section of the political class is also opposing the takeover, citing concerns over national security.
Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina has fiercely opposed the plan saying “How can we allow a security-restricted area of our country to be taken over by a foreign entity? This takeover of our Airport by Adani Group cannot and should not be allowed!”
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