Kenya’s High Court has paused a controversial $1.85 billion deal allowing India’s Adani Group to take over Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), a move praised by critics as “a win for the Kenyan people.”

The Adani Group was negotiating a 30-year lease to manage the airport, one of Africa’s busiest hubs. However, the proposed deal faced significant backlash, with critics warning it could result in job losses for local workers and deprive taxpayers of future profits from the airport, which generates over five percent of Kenya’s GDP.

The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission challenged the deal in court, arguing it violated governance principles and misused public funds.

The High Court granted a temporary halt while awaiting a final ruling. Kenya’s government, meanwhile, defended the deal, stating that modernizing the airport was crucial.

Although negotiations are ongoing, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union also voiced strong opposition, threatening to strike.