The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has dismissed reports linking India’s Adani Group to the planned modernisation and expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), clarifying that a previously proposed partnership with the conglomerate was formally cancelled.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, KAA said the Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) with the Adani Group had been terminated and that there are no ongoing discussions with the company or any of its affiliates regarding JKIA.
KAA emphasised that the airport’s expansion and modernisation programme is fully financed by the Government of Kenya and is being implemented through established public-sector procedures.
The clarification comes amid renewed public debate over the earlier proposal involving the Adani Group. The deal, reportedly valued at about Sh238 billion, sought to upgrade JKIA under a build-operate-transfer model spanning 30 years.
The proposed arrangement had drawn widespread scrutiny from civil society organisations, legal experts, and aviation stakeholders, who raised concerns over the lack of competitive bidding, transparency issues, and the potential transfer of strategic national infrastructure to a private entity.
In late 2024, the High Court of Kenya temporarily halted the deal, citing constitutional and governance concerns. The government subsequently cancelled the agreement in 2025, confirming that JKIA’s development would proceed under direct government funding.
The expansion of JKIA remains a key component of Kenya’s broader strategy to enhance its aviation infrastructure and solidify Nairobi’s position as a leading regional air transport hub.
