Raila Odinga Endorses Adani-JKIA Deal, Urges Transparency in PPPs
Ayize claire
Oct 14, 2024
ila Odinga endorses the Adani-JKIA deal, calling for transparency and efficient handling of Public-Private Partnerships to boost Kenya's infrastructure development.
The opposition leader Raila Odinga has supported the contentious Introduce Adani-JKIA deal and emphasized the importance of Public Private Partnerships(PPPs) in enhancing the infrastructure of Kenya. According to him, if properly managed, the 3ps present the best opportunity for Kenya’s economic problems during the ODM delegates’ retreat in Mombasa.
He emphasized that the energy and airport initiatives promoted by the Adani Group are critical for assessing the country's competitiveness in the international infrastructure sector. Regarding Raila, the watershed moment in these projects may either propel or stop the surge of infrastructural development activities in Kenya for ages.
“Given the country’s current debt, he added, ‘the various proposals put forth whereby manda PPP is not super cash sweet projects are wasted, PPP is the last option to go to avoid cash provoking projects.’ He noted that any further slippages on the side of the Kenyan authorities, as to whether they can implement the PPPs would tempt excessive stasis in progression of development and risk being overtaken by competition from surrounding nations.
Polls in Kenya have indicated a high level of support for aid transparency and accountability that implies some constraints on how foreign funds, anticipated from PPPs, can be employed. Raila emphasized that accountability and reduction of red tapes and legal barriers should be prioritized in achieving successful implementation of PPPs. As such, he urged the authorities to respond to the concerns of the public with regard to the Adani arrangement as failure to do that would scare away much needed foreign investment.
It is important to make sure that our procedures are clear-cut and remove any bureaucratic obstacles which may frighten away investors,” Raila said and pointed out that implementation of very stringent laws on PPP might dissuade investment in key sectors.
People also read: Kenya Airport Strike Strands Hundreds due to Controversial Indian Adani group Takeover
Citing some of the most serious problems, the ODM leader’s case was that there are a lot of infrastructure deficits in Kenya, especially in regard to transportation, energy and digital connectivity. Nonetheless, the state does not have capital to undertake such improvements only through taxation or debt.
“People are already seeing some idea of the burden of additional taxes or more debt, and that is not a mood compatible with what the government would wish to borrow from the IMF and World Bank,” Raila said, explaining the popular opposition to such external debt.
Adani's Investments in Kenya's Developmental Projects
Responding to other worries concerning the Adani Group’s participation in the project, Raila touted the Indian Group as making great strides in the field of infrastructure in various countries. He said that he was first introduced to the company while serving as prime minister of Kenya, and before now, the current prime minister of India was chief minister of Gujarat.
Raila hailed the accomplishments by Adani of changing the Indian aviation and shipping industries and believed that the group is capable of achieving similar results in Kenya.
