Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, John Mbadi, addressed growing concerns about Indian conglomerate Adani Airport Holdings' proposed takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) during an appearance before the National Assembly's Public Investment Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy.

The agreement, which includes a 30-year concession to manage Kenya's largest airport, has drawn intense public scrutiny and legal challenges.

During his testimony on Tuesday, Mbadi emphasised that his department has no records linking Adani Airport Holdings to corruption.

 “I have no record of any corruption scandal by Adani,” he stated firmly. This assertion came as part of a broader defense of the procurement process, which some members of the committee have criticized. 

He claimed that thorough background checks on the company had revealed that it was free of any corruption allegations, saying, "If there were records proving Adani is corrupt, what is my business to defend?"

The committee members, including Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap, expressed concern about the use of a Private Initiated Proposal (PIP) for the takeover rather than a competitive tendering process. 

Makilap questioned the rationale for this decision, prompting Mbadi to respond: "I no longer have a vote in the National Assembly; I am now in the executive." Go vote and amend the law.”

Mbadi clarified that the Adani proposal was not chosen at random; it underwent rigorous review and necessary modifications by relevant stakeholders.

“There are some who are just picking the Adani proposal and dismissing it, not knowing that it underwent review and significant changes were made,” he remarked. 

He went on to say that, aside from the Adani proposal, no other companies submitted formal proposals that met the required standards, due to insufficient expressions of interest.

Despite the ongoing controversies, Mbadi assured the committee that the government is willing to consider alternative proposals. 

“If a better deal emerges, we can stop the Adani one, but the new developer will need to compensate Adani for their involvement,” he noted. 

He emphasised that the concession is for 30 years and reiterated his support for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), ensuring that these processes follow the law and are transparent.

Mbadi called for constructive public engagement, stating that if Kenyans oppose the deal, it could be reconsidered. 

“If Kenyans still think they want to discontinue the deal, who am I to say no? But let us allow for constructive engagement,” he remarked.

When questioned about the public consultation process, he admitted that delays had occurred, particularly due to a court order that prevented further engagement. 

“The committee decided that KAA should engage the public, but this process has stalled due to a court order stopping any other involvement,” he explained.

Moving forward, the remaining steps in the process will involve approval from the Attorney General and the Cabinet before the project can be executed. 

Mbadi assured the committee that maintaining oversight is crucial, but he stressed the importance of keeping the process objective to encourage private investment while ensuring transparency.

As public and legal challenges to the Adani deal escalate, Mbadi's testimony emphasised the government's commitment to transparency and due process while leaving room for public debate and alternative proposals.