President William Ruto dismissed rumors that the government planned to sell the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to a private company.

According to Ruto, Kenya is merely pursuing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to renovate the infrastructure and give the airport a new face.

“The airport we have in Nairobi is made of canvas in the arrivals. This is a temporary structure we put up almost 7 years ago. Ethiopia, Rwanda have a brand-new airport. It is the reason why we need to work with investors to give us a new airport,” Ruto said. 

During a Townhall conversation in Mombasa on Sunday, the Head of State argued that a PPP programme is the best way to improve the airport since it allows for both foreign and local investment.

“Am I a mad man? How do you sell a strategic national asset? You have to be insane. We must have the right investment for the airport. What we want to do is to work under the PPP programme,” he said. 

Ruto’s announcement comes in the wake of popular outcry over plans for Adani Airports Holding Limited, a private investor, to invest Ksh.242 billion in JKIA expansion.

Last Monday, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed receiving Adani’s proposal to enhance Kenya’s main airport over the next 30 years as part of the Cabinet-approved JKIA Medium Term Investment Plan.

The Indian company’s plan, which will be carried out in a public-private collaboration, includes improving JKIA’s passenger terminal and creating a new one, as well as constructing a second runway and improving the taxiway and apron.

Civil society groups and several MPs have criticized the transaction, fearing that the state is attempting to’sell’ JKIA.