Protests Over Adani's Airport Takeover in Kenya May Fuel Anti-India Sentiment: Jairam Ramesh

Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh has expressed concerns over the proposed takeover of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by India’s Adani Group, which has sparked significant protests in Kenya. Ramesh warned that the widespread opposition could evolve into anti-India sentiment due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close ties with Adani, which are well-known globally.

Ramesh highlighted that similar controversies involving Adani’s projects in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have already hurt India’s interests. He cited the example of Bangladesh, where the government’s contract to buy power from Adani’s Jharkhand coal plant became a focal point of protests that eventually led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. Likewise, Adani’s renewable energy ventures in Sri Lanka’s Mannar district were entangled in the 2022 protests that contributed to the downfall of the Sri Lankan government.

“India’s soft power has traditionally been one of its greatest foreign policy assets,” Ramesh noted. “However, the PM’s association with the Adani Group has weakened this strength, leading to unprecedented setbacks for India on the global stage.”

The protests in Kenya are led by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union, which represents airport employees, reports Reuters. The union has called for a strike to oppose the deal with Adani Airport Holdings, arguing that it would lead to job losses and the influx of foreign workers. The union has demanded the Kenyan government scrap the proposed agreement entirely, issuing a seven-day strike notice.

Moss Ndiema, Secretary General of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union, stated, according to the news agency, that the strike would only be reconsidered if the deal with Adani Airport Holdings is fully abandoned. He also called for the resignation of the entire board of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).

Kenya’s government, however, maintains that the airport is not for sale, clarifying that the agreement with Adani is part of a proposed public-private partnership aimed at upgrading the airport, which would include the construction of a second runway and improvements to the passenger terminal. The KAA has received the strike notice but remains hopeful for a negotiated resolution, Reuters reported.