The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has firmly denied fresh claims that India’s Adani Group still plays a role in plans to upgrade Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, KAA addressed reports published in a local publication suggesting the conglomerate retained some involvement in the modernisation and expansion of Kenya’s main airport.

KAA dismissed the claims outright.

“The Privately Initiated Proposal with the Adani Group was formally cancelled, and there are no discussions with the group or any of its affiliates in relation to JKIA,” the authority said.

KAA made it clear that the project now runs solely as a Government of Kenya initiative. It said the state is funding the programme and implementing it under established public sector rules.

“The Authority remains committed to transparency and will continue to keep stakeholders and the public informed,” the statement added.

Mohamud Gedi, Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of KAA, signed the statement. He also provided contact details for further enquiries, including a telephone number and official email address.

The clarification follows months of debate over the original proposal involving the Adani Group. The deal, valued around Ksh258 billion, aimed to upgrade JKIA under a build-operate-transfer model over a period of 30 years.

Deal collapse and fallout

Critics questioned how the process unfolded. Aviation unions, civil society groups and opposition politicians argued that officials had not ensured adequate transparency or public participation. Some also raised concerns about parliamentary oversight.

In 2024, airport workers went on strike over fears that the deal could lead to job losses and foreign control of a key national asset. Legal challenges followed. The High Court issued orders that halted progress as the case proceeded.

The government later moved to terminate the agreement. President William Ruto announced the cancellation late 2024. The decision came amid separate legal issues facing Adani executives in the United States over bribery claims, although those matters did not directly concern the Kenya project.

Recent newspaper reports appear to have revived old claims about Adani’s involvement. KAA responded quickly to stop what it described as speculation and to restate its position.

Nonetheless, KAA recently notified the public through a court process that the Adani deal has been formally terminated.