President William Ruto has dismissed reports by a section of Kenyans that there are plans to sell the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Addressing a town hall meeting in Mombasa on Sunday, Ruto said the reports are misleading.
The Head of State said the government is only looking for investors who can work with the government to expand the airport and ensure it serves Kenyans better under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
"Let's be honest Kenyans, the airport we have in Nairobi is made of canvas. This is a temporary structure we built almost 7 years ago. Ethiopia have a brand new airport. Rwanda the same. It is the reason why we need to work with investors to have a new airport in Nairobi," Ruto said.
"I have seen many people saying William Ruto want to sell the airport (JKIA). Am I a madman? How do you sell a strategic national asset? You have to be insane. The airport is a strategic national asset. We want to work under the PPP Program to make the airport better."
The Head of State said many countries have made tremendous progress in developing their airports into modern standards thanks to the PPP arrangement.
He said the existing structures at JKIA have outlived their usefulness hence the need to bring on board modern facilities to modernise the airport.
"We are 10 years behind in modernizing our airports. We need to work with investors to improve our airports. Airports are strategic government assets."
"I want to persuade you Kenyans, don't buy into fake news, don't buy into the propaganda. There is no country that can sell a strategic national asset like an airport," he said.
Ruto said once the PPP is in place, Kenyans will be kept abreast with the details in an open, transparent and accountable manner.
