NAIROBI, Kenya – Corporacion America Airports SA (CAAP), one of the world’s largest airport operators, has raised concerns over the Kenyan government’s prolonged silence following its formal bid to invest in the country’s airports.
CAAP, which submitted its proposal to the then Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen in June, says it has yet to receive any response from the government.
“So far, we haven’t had any response from Kenya’s government to that letter of presentation,” the Buenos Aires-based company told Bloomberg, expressing frustration at the lack of communication.
CAAP is among several private investors vying to anchor operations in Kenya’s airfields, but the government’s focus appears to have shifted toward another major player—India’s Adani Group.
The controversial firm has shown interest in the proposed Ksh.260 billion expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) through a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model under a 30-year concession.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, who has been under intense public scrutiny for weeks, recently acknowledged the government’s failure to disclose details of Adani’s involvement but emphasized that no binding agreement had been reached.
“There was a lapse in communication regarding the privately initiated investment by Adani in this airport,” Chirchir admitted during a press briefing at JKIA, following a meeting to resolve a strike by aviation workers protesting the proposed deal.
Adani Airports Holding Limited first submitted its proposal to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) in March 2024, which outlined plans to refurbish and expand JKIA’s existing facilities, along with developing and operating the airport’s city-side operations.
However, in April, KAA reviewed the proposal and deemed it “untenable,” citing concerns over project feasibility and affordability.
Despite these concerns, the national aviation policy and JKIA’s medium-term investment plan were approved by Cabinet in June, fueling further speculation about the government’s intentions.
The ongoing controversy over Adani’s bid has triggered public outcry and unrest among aviation workers, culminating in a strike on September 12.
The situation has cast a shadow over Kenya’s airport development plans, leaving global investors like CAAP questioning the government’s handling of the bidding process and transparency in its infrastructure deals.
CAAP, which submitted its proposal to the then Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen in June, says it has yet to receive any response from the government.
“So far, we haven’t had any response from Kenya’s government to that letter of presentation,” the Buenos Aires-based company told Bloomberg, expressing frustration at the lack of communication.
CAAP is among several private investors vying to anchor operations in Kenya’s airfields, but the government’s focus appears to have shifted toward another major player—India’s Adani Group.
The controversial firm has shown interest in the proposed Ksh.260 billion expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) through a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model under a 30-year concession.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, who has been under intense public scrutiny for weeks, recently acknowledged the government’s failure to disclose details of Adani’s involvement but emphasized that no binding agreement had been reached.
“There was a lapse in communication regarding the privately initiated investment by Adani in this airport,” Chirchir admitted during a press briefing at JKIA, following a meeting to resolve a strike by aviation workers protesting the proposed deal.
Adani Airports Holding Limited first submitted its proposal to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) in March 2024, which outlined plans to refurbish and expand JKIA’s existing facilities, along with developing and operating the airport’s city-side operations.
However, in April, KAA reviewed the proposal and deemed it “untenable,” citing concerns over project feasibility and affordability.
Despite these concerns, the national aviation policy and JKIA’s medium-term investment plan were approved by Cabinet in June, fueling further speculation about the government’s intentions.
The ongoing controversy over Adani’s bid has triggered public outcry and unrest among aviation workers, culminating in a strike on September 12.
The situation has cast a shadow over Kenya’s airport development plans, leaving global investors like CAAP questioning the government’s handling of the bidding process and transparency in its infrastructure deals.
