Kenya Halts Adani Group's Airport Lease Deal Amid Legal Scrutiny

Kenya's high court has blocked a proposed lease of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to India's Adani Group. The Law Society of Kenya and Kenya Human Rights Commission argue the $1.85 billion upgrade could be independently funded, avoiding job losses and financial risks. Legal review is pending.

Kenya's high court has temporarily halted a proposed 30-year lease deal involving India's Adani Group and Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, court documents reveal.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) argue that Kenya can independently finance the $1.85 billion required for airport upgrades without incurring the risks associated with the lease, such as job losses and potential fiscal threats. The high court has allowed a judicial review while barring any action on the Adani proposal pending the case's resolution.

While the Adani Group did not immediately respond, the Kenya Airports Authority declined to comment on ongoing legal matters. Meanwhile, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union plans a strike against the deal, which they claim could lead to job losses and the introduction of non-Kenyan workers. Kenya's government maintains the airport requires modernization but insists no final decision has been reached and that national interests would be safeguarded if the deal proceeds.

(With inputs from agencies.)