Latest news with #Odinga
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Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Kenya's ex-PM disappointed Adani deal for JKI airport expansion failed
Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga has said that he was disappointed when the Adani deal to expand and manage the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) collapsed, according to a media report on Friday. Odinga, while speaking on the second day of the National Executive Retreat in Karen in Nairobi, also said that the deal was politicised, resulting in its cancellation, The Star newspaper reported. "I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the airport contract that was very unfortunate, he was quoted as saying by the newspaper. The leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said should the deal have proceeded, it would have elevated Nairobi into a regional economic hub. He said that the first expansion contract for JKIA was awarded during his tenure as the Prime Minister but was later on cancelled after the grand coalition government left office. We had awarded the Greenfield airport contract before we left government with Mwai Kibaki in 2012. That contract was cancelled, then it was given to the same contractor but then again cancelled because of disagreements. When we got to Adani, they (the political rivals) brought politics and the contract was cancelled," he said. If that is not done, Nairobi will just become dormant. Look at Addis Ababa, they are going and now putting up a new big airport and it's going to be the hub around, he added. Under the proposed airport deal worth nearly $2 billion, the conglomerate was to add a second runway at JKIA and upgrade the passenger terminal. It was also to operate it on a 30-year lease.
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Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Kenya's ex-PM disappointed as Adani deal for JKI airport expansion fails
Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga has said that he was disappointed when the Adani deal to expand and manage the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) collapsed, according to a media report on Friday. Odinga, while speaking on the second day of the National Executive Retreat in Karen in Nairobi, also said that the deal was politicised, resulting in its cancellation, The Star newspaper reported. "I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the airport contract that was very unfortunate, he was quoted as saying by the newspaper. The leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said should the deal have proceeded, it would have elevated Nairobi into a regional economic hub. He said that the first expansion contract for JKIA was awarded during his tenure as the Prime Minister but was later on cancelled after the grand coalition government left office. We had awarded the Greenfield airport contract before we left government with Mwai Kibaki in 2012. That contract was cancelled, then it was given to the same contractor but then again cancelled because of disagreements. When we got to Adani, they (the political rivals) brought politics and the contract was cancelled," he said. If that is not done, Nairobi will just become dormant. Look at Addis Ababa, they are going and now putting up a new big airport and it's going to be the hub around, he added. Under the proposed airport deal worth nearly $2 billion, the conglomerate was to add a second runway at JKIA and upgrade the passenger terminal. It was also to operate it on a 30-year lease. Odinga said if the airport construction is done, it has the potential to become Africa's top airline.
NDTV
8 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
'Was Disappointed When Adani Nairobi Airport Deal Was Cancelled': Ex Kenya PM
Blaming political manoeuvring for the collapse of the deal under which the Adani Group would carry out the expansion of, and manage, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has warned that the city now risks becoming dormant while other countries could become regional hubs in Africa. Speaking during the Third National Executive Retreat, also attended by Kenyan President William Ruto, in Nairobi's suburb of Karen on Friday, Mr Odinga, who is a leader of the Orange Democractic Movement (ODM), said the first expansion contract for JKIA was awarded while he was the prime minister, but was cancelled after the coalition government led by him left office. The same contractor was given the contract again, but it was cancelled a second time. "We had awarded the Greenfield airport contract before we left government with Mwai Kibaki in 2012. That contract was cancelled, then it was given to the same contractor but then again cancelled because of disagreements. When we brought in Adani, they (referring to his political opponents) brought politics and the contract was cancelled," Mr Odinga said. "I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the airport contract, that was very unfortunate," he added. Pointing out that Kenya is fortunate to be strategically located and could become a big hub, Mr Odinga said Nairobi could become dormant if the expansion is not done. "Look at Addis Ababa, it's growing and now they are putting up a new big airport. So Addis Ababa will be the new hub around. Ethiopian Airlines is now the dominant airline on the continent. Kenya Airways can do the same. Kenya Airways can be the carrier on the continent, but we are not doing it, we need to find a way. Look at Emirates, people there do not look at the airline for profits, it is basically a vehicle bringing investors, shoppers and tourists to the Emirates," he said. Reiterating his point and warning that Nairobi was missing out on an opportunity, he added, "Put up a big airport in Nairobi. If you don't do it, Rwanda is going to do it and Kigali will become the hub around here. You can do it in Nairobi and it will become the Dubai of Africa."
Hans India
9 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Disappointed when Adani airport deal cancelled, they're credible partner: Kenya's Odinga
Nairobi: Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday said he was disappointed when the Adani Group deal to expand and manage Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) got cancelled. On the second day of the National Executive Retreat in Karen here, Odinga said that should the deal have proceeded, it would have elevated Nairobi into a regional economic hub, as per local media. "I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the airport contract that was very unfortunate,' the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader was quoted as saying in the Nairobi Leo publication. Citing political manoeuvring as the key reason for the deal's collapse, he said: "Kenya is very strategically located. I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the airport contract... If that is not done, Nairobi will become dormant." Before the cancellation of the deal, Odinga was among the leaders who defended the Adani Group. Kenyan President William Ruto ordered the cancellation of the Adani-JKIA expansion deal as well as the Adani-Ketraco deal, while issuing the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on November 21, 2024. Odinga said that the country lost a strategic opportunity after the deal fell through, adding that Adani's capabilities surpass those of other firms in East Africa. "Adani is a credible partner. They have proven their capabilities in projects that surpass what we have seen in East Africa," he said. The Adani Group has been interested in investing in Kenya since 2010, but this interest was hindered by the lack of a proper legal framework for public-private partnerships (PPPs) at the time. "I want to say that there needs to be transparency when dealing with such issues; otherwise, we risk condemning very reputable companies… Do not condemn innocent companies that are engaged in legitimate commercial transactions," the Kenyan leader was quoted as saying.
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Kenyan MP shot dead in ‘devastating' targeted attack on streets of capital
A Kenyan lawmaker was shot dead by armed gunmen in capital Nairobi, a killing the police said appeared to be targeted and premeditated. Charles Ong'ondo Were, a member of parliament representing Kasipul constituency in Kenya 's west, died after being shot on the Ngong Road on Wednesday evening when his vehicle stopped at a traffic light, Kenya's police said in a statement. The shooter was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle that stopped alongside the lawmaker's car, the police said, citing a witness. "The pillion passenger approached the vehicle and fired shots at the passenger side before jumping back onto the motorcycle and speeding away," police officials said in a statement. "The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and premeditated,' they added. Were was inside the car along with his bodyguard and driver when the bike approached their car. The pillion passenger, police said, then disembarked and approached the lawmaker's car before firing at him. His driver and bodyguard were unhurt and rushed him to the Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, according to reports. Kenyan president Willian Ruto urged the police to conduct a 'thorough investigation' and said that those responsible 'must be held to account' in remarks issued on Thursday. Kenyan parliament speaker Moses Wetang'ula called Were a "fearless and distinguished" legislator, as he described his shooting as "devastating". Were was reelected in 2022 to represent Kasipul constituency in western Kenya for the Orange Democratic Movement Party and was a major opposition voice. His party leader Raila Odinga has described Were as a 'gallant son of the soil'. Mr Odinga was president Ruto's main challenger in the 2022 general election. "Were is no more; mercilessly and in cold blood, gunned down by an assassin in Nairobi this evening," Mr Odinga wrote on X. Mr Odinga had rejected the 2022 election result, alleging irregularities, but he and some of his allies have since struck agreements to work with Mr Ruto to address Kenya's economic and political challenges. Kenya has been a relatively stable country in the region which has witnessed several civil conflicts in recent years and political assassinations are unusual in the African nation.
