How MPs have killed “Kenyatta’s family” hopes of taking over JKIA

Early this week, lawmakers linked Kenyatta’s family in the ongoing debate of the JKIA takeover! This is after a bank linked to the family was found to be having an interest in the International airport, but do you think the plans would succeed?

According to the establishments of the parliament, the plan by Kenya Airways to take over the management of JKIA was crafted by top government officials.

During the heated discussions, Kenya Airports Authority chiefs laid bare the behind the scenes machinations that confirmed fears that there were powerful forces pushing the deal.

Minutes of a KAA board meeting suggested that the instructions to execute the takeover were from “a high office.”

The minutes also showed that Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) CEO Isaac Awuondo, who is also the chairman of KAA, declared his interest by announcing that the bank has shares in Kenya Airways.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa asked the KAA chairman to step down citing glaring violations of laws guiding conflict of interest.

The Public Investments Committee has, hence, halted all transactions regarding the takeover until the matter is resolved.

Further, the committee asked KAA to recover Sh15 million that was paid to the transaction adviser – MMC Africa, which was a down payment for the Sh150 million advisory contract.

The firm was hired to devise the takeover plan which has sparked protests among Kenyans citing fears of losing Sh8 billion in revenue.

PIC chairman Abdulswamad Nassir said the committee would do a formal communication to the House regarding the decision.

“We ask the Office of the Auditor General to probe the proposal and any communication associated with it,” he said. In his presentation, KAA CEO Jonny Andersen said the deal was birthed through a letter from the Transport ministry which notified the authority of a Cabinet resolution approving the deal.

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