Govt confirms official termination of Adani-JKIA deal
By Zipporah Ngwatu, February 24, 2026
The government has confirmed before the High Court that it has officially cancelled the Adani-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Ksh237 billion renovation deal.
When the matter came up for mention on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) told court that the contract has been formally terminated.
KAA, however, urged the court to lift the orders issued in 2024.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye, however, declined and ordered the case he heard expeditiously.
The Judge directed the government to file their further responses to the petition by Tony Gachoka and Mount Kenya Jurists by March 13, 2026.
Further, the petitioners were ordered to file their rejoinder to the lawsuit by April 17, 2026.
Petitioners’ argument
Gachoka and the Mount Kenya Jurists moved seeking orders blocking the Cabinet Secretaries John Mbadi (Treasury) and Davis Chirchir (Transport), along with the Attorney General, from implementing the deal.
They aver that the agreement that includes extensive upgrades to JKIA, including the development of new terminal buildings, road networks, and other facilities aimed at enhancing the airport’s capacity and efficiency, is dubious, raising concerns over legality, transparency, and national sovereignty.
The petitioners state that the 30-year lease agreement, which involves a national asset, was negotiated without adequate public consultation, and the deal was done in secrecy and with procedural flaws.
“The government has or is about to sign a concealed concession agreement with Adani for the unlawful alienation of the airport for a period of 30 years,” Gachoka states in the petition.
“This dubious and secretive private-public partnership deal has been kept away from the reach of the citizens of Kenya,” the petitioners add.
According to a privately initiated proposal feasibility report for JKIA filed in court by the petitioners, the Adani Group has committed to refurbishing existing terminals and constructing new ones at approximately $2.05 billion.
Upon completion, they state that the airport will be able to handle approximately Ksh8.5 to Ksh9 million passengers.
The report also indicated that the first phase of the work was expected to be completed by fiscal year 2028, with the final phase projected to conclude in 2049.