Engineers Sound Alarm Over Key Gaps in Adani’s 30-Year Plan for JKIA Expansion
The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has expressed serious reservations about the proposed 30-year lease of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Adani Airport Holdings Limited.
This comes as the deal, under a Privately Initiated Project (PIP) arrangement, seeks to boost JKIA’s passenger capacity from 10 million to 23 million by 2054. However, IEK’s leadership has flagged multiple critical gaps, raising concerns about the long-term viability of the proposal.
In a detailed statement signed by IEK President, Engineer Shammah Kiteme, the organization pointed out several flaws in the plan, particularly regarding its focus.
“The proposal seems to focus more on City Side Development (CSD) rather than addressing immediate aviation challenges,” said Kiteme. According to IEK, the Adani deal places undue emphasis on commercial infrastructure, such as hotels and malls, while delaying crucial aviation developments.
Among the chief concerns outlined by the engineers is the fact that the 30-acre allocation for City Side Development does little to address JKIA’s urgent operational needs.
IEK criticized the plan for prioritizing the construction of hotels and malls shortly after the lease is signed, while delaying critical developments like terminal expansions and taxiway improvements until Phase 2, set for 2029 to 2034. “There is no mention of constructing a new runway in the entire 30-year concession period,” Kiteme added.
In addition, the proposal’s plan to implement Instrument Landing System (ILS) CAT-I facilities by 2046 was deemed outdated. “JKIA already has CAT-I ILS, and upgrading to CAT II or III would be more beneficial,” Kiteme emphasized.
One of the IEK’s most pressing recommendations is the construction of a second runway, which they argue should be a central part of any modernization project at JKIA.
“This should be one of the primary considerations in any modernization project at JKIA. The absence of such a proposal in the Adani deal is concerning,” said Kiteme. A new 10,000-foot runway, IEK suggested, could accommodate larger aircraft like the Airbus A380, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS OF KENYA (IEK) STATEMENT ON THE LEASE OF JKIA AND OTHER AIRPORT FACILITIES TO THE ADANI GROUP
— The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (@TheIEK) September 9, 2024
Read the full statement here: https://t.co/CrVADOLxdv pic.twitter.com/amDHTPDvqo
Beyond technical shortcomings, the IEK also criticized the lack of transparency in the lease agreement, calling for adherence to Kenya’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act to ensure a competitive and fair process.
In related news, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) have successfully obtained a court order halting the implementation of Adani’s proposal.
High Court Judge J. Chigiti granted the request for judicial review on September 9, blocking the takeover pending further examination.
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Engineers Sound Alarm Over Key Gaps in Adani’s 30-Year Plan for JKIA Expansion
