Kenya’s High Court Blocks Controversial Adani Deal to Lease Nairobi’s Main Airport
Kenya’s High Court temporarily blocks a proposed deal for India's Adani Group to lease and expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, following concerns over job losses and fiscal risks. The court has halted any action on the deal pending further legal review.
Kenya's High Court has temporarily halted a proposed deal for India's Adani Group to lease Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for 30 years in exchange for expanding the facility. Court documents reveal that the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) jointly filed a request, arguing that the country could raise the $1.85 billion needed to upgrade Nairobi’s main airport independently.
The LSK and KHRC claimed the proposed 30-year lease of East Africa's largest aviation hub would be too costly, pose a fiscal risk, threaten jobs, and fail to provide value for Kenyan taxpayers. In response, the High Court granted permission for a judicial review of the deal and issued an interim order preventing any actions related to the Adani proposal until the court case is resolved, according to LSK President Faith Odhiambo.
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The Adani Group has not yet commented on the legal development, while the Kenya Airports Authority declined to address matters currently before the court. Last month, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union threatened to strike, warning that the deal could lead to job losses and the hiring of non-Kenyan workers.
Kenya's government has acknowledged the airport's need for modernization due to operating beyond its capacity. However, it has emphasized that the airport is not for sale and that no final decision has been made on the proposed public-private partnership with Adani. In July, the government stated it was reviewing Adani's offer and assured that safeguards would be in place to protect national interests if a deal proceeds.
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