President William Ruto has taken aim at Kenyans who criticized the government’s plans to modernize Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) through private-public partnerships, calling their opposition unpatriotic.
Speaking on December 2 during the launch of the Devki Iron Ore Pelletisation Plant in Taita Taveta, Ruto reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to upgrading the airport despite the collapse of the deal with Indian conglomerate Adani International.
“Sometimes, when people believe in Kenya and want to invest in our country, we sabotage them. Yet, ironically, we glorify those who undermine our progress. What gain do you get when you stop an airport project, while offering no alternative solutions?” Ruto asked.
The President criticized the celebration of Adani’s withdrawal from the project, pointing out the urgent need for modernized airport infrastructure. He described the current state of JKIA as inadequate compared to global standards.
Ruto assured Kenyans that plans to revamp JKIA would continue, even as the government seeks new partners to ensure transparency and accountability following the cancellation of the Adani deal.
“We stopped Adani because the law bars us from engaging with entities facing legal challenges. But that doesn’t mean the airport won’t be built. We are committed to finding new partners to achieve this vision,” he emphasized.
During his remarks, Ruto also responded to critics on social media, accusing them of misrepresenting the government’s efforts and derailing progress. Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho echoed Ruto’s sentiments, condemning the misuse of social media to undermine development initiatives.
Ruto’s comments follow his directive during the November 21 State of the Nation address, where he ordered the cancellation of all ongoing and concluded agreements with Adani International related to JKIA expansion and energy projects. The move, he stated, was based on new information from investigative agencies and partner nations.
Despite the challenges, Ruto expressed optimism about Kenya’s future infrastructure projects, asserting that collaboration with trustworthy and patriotic stakeholders would help the country achieve its development goals.