Grapevine

Adani JKIA takeover deal raises questions on economic governance

Police officers tries to contol some of the stranded passengers at JKIA after aviation workers staged a strike over contraversial take over by a foreign investor on September 11, 2024. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

When Kenyans promulgated the Constitution of August 27, 2010, they unequivocally pronounced themselves on how they desired to be governed. The people established for themselves the democratic order, institutions and instruments of government that they felt would best serve their interests and those of their children.

Despite that, Kenyans have time and again been treated to circuses that sound like works of fiction until the details start emerging.

The supposed Adani deal over Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the latest such drama. Yet, as more unfolds on the airport drama, it is emerging Adani may also have spread its roving eyes into other strategic agencies in the energy sector. It is unimaginable how people of sound mind, professionals and respectable members of our community can entertain, let alone sign, to the absurd details emerging from the so-called ‘privately initiated proposal over the airport.

Forget about the denials peddled from high offices in the land. This is a familiar road we have travelled time and again in the past, only to wake up to the reality that strategic national assets were put at risk by senior public officials for a morsel.