Kenyatta Family Linked to JKIA Takeover Deal by Kenya Airways

Members of Parliament have questioned the relationship between Kenyatta family businesses and the contentious plan that will see Kenya Airways takeover the operations of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).

The Star reports that the National Assembly Public Investment Committee (PIC) has raised fears of possible conflict of interest in the deal.

Last year, President Kenyatta appointed Isaac Awuondo as the chairman of the Kenya Airports Authority.

Awuondo is also the Managing Director of the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), where the Kenyattas are the majority shareholders.

At the same time, CBA is known to be a major shareholder at KQ after the national carrier allegedly converted a loan of Sh3.1 billion taken from the local bank into shares. 

Members of the PIC on Tuesday put KAA CEO John Andersen to task to confirm whether allegations of powerful forces pushing for Kenya Airways to be handed over the Nairobi airport are true.

“I cannot speculate on the reason behind the deal or the faces behind it. We were approached by Kenya Airways on this matter and also got a Cabinet memo seeking that we manage the process,” Andersen responded to the committee.

It has also emerged that KQ owes KAA Sh3.8 billion, raising further questions on the deal.

If the deal is successful, KQ will manage the operations of the country's biggest airport for a period of 30 years.