Adani Airport Holdings Limited has confirmed paying KES 6.47 million (approximately USD 50,000) to the Kenyan government as a review fee for its KES 242 billion proposal to take over and upgrade Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
The Indian infrastructure company disclosed this in a replying affidavit filed on Tuesday, September 17, in response to a case brought by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) on September 9, which seeks to block the deal.
According to Adani’s affidavit, the review fee was deposited into the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Facilitation Fund, and all required documents for its privately initiated proposal (PIP) were submitted. The company’s lawyers stated, “Upon submission of the PIP, Adani Airport Holdings Limited duly paid the review fee of KES 6.47 million to the Public Private Partnership Facilitation Fund, as required by law.”
The company also confirmed that it had provided all necessary pre-approval documents, including incorporation certificates, tax compliance records, and financial statements, to facilitate due diligence by the PPP Directorate in collaboration with the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).
Adani further detailed that on March 18, the Kenya Airports Authority acknowledged receipt of its proposal and approved the project to move forward to the development phase, specifically the feasibility study stage. The company subsequently submitted a feasibility study report, which included an assessment of environmental and social impacts, financial planning, and how the project would deliver value to the Kenyan public.
Additionally, the company provided a preliminary operating plan for the project, aligning with national infrastructure goals and addressing long-standing issues at JKIA. Adani refuted claims made by KHRC and LSK that the airport had already been leased to the company for 30 years, calling such assertions a misrepresentation of facts.
In the court filings, Adani revealed that it first became aware of JKIA’s deteriorating condition through Kenyan media, prompting it to submit a proposal to the KAA on March 1, 2024, for the airport’s improvement. The court has since halted any further action on the proposed lease until the case is resolved, with the next hearing scheduled for October 8.
