The Cabinet Secretary nominee for Roads and Transport Davis Chirchir has undertaken to make public all the details surrounding the deal involving India’s Adani Airports Holdings in the planned modernization of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Amid questions being raised regarding the decision to consider the bid submitted by the Indian company to invest in the country’s logistics facility, Chirchir told Members of Parliament who are vetting him for the position that he will begin by opening up the deal for the Kenyans to scrutinize it and make a decision on whether it is worth proceeding with it or not.
“We need to carry Kenyans along as we do some of the things like in Adani (the deal on JKIA modernization), Kenya Airways, or Government to Government deals.
“We should be able to get Kenyans to understand if Adani is a deal we should do and is it going to help Kenyans. It’s an off-balancing upgrade of KAA, and if we can’t do it as government, can we allow a private sector player to do it on reasonable but competitive costs or return on capital?” he said
He told the Committee on Appointments that the biggest challenge facing the government is the inability to have all the deals open unless it is compelled to do so.
“I think as government we feel like information can only be given out when we have been pushed to give information,” he said
He pledged to ensure all deals entered into by the Ministry of Transport, if he is approved for the CS post, will be accessible to Kenyans at all times. He, in fact, is promising to promote a culture of public participation, where the public gives input before any deal is inked.
“The challenge the country is facing in terms of how we work is the aspect of communication and carrying Kenyans together with us…. Article 35 of the constitution guarantees every citizen the right to information,” he said
“We will look at Adani. We will need public participation, provide information, have a framework in terms of term sheets and in terms of what is the correct return on investment when we are bringing a PPP,” added Chirchir
Chirchir said the Constitution of Kenya, Chapter 12 talks about openness and accountability including participation in financial matters and this ought to be observed at all times.
