Kenya's Sh240 billion deal with Indian firm Adani Holdings over the expansion and takeover of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport could be beneficial to the country, a Cabinet nominee has said.

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary nominee Davies Chirchir told a parliamentary committee vetting him that the country needed to assess the benefits of such a deal to the nation and potential investors.

"This is an off-balance sheet upgrade of the Kenya Airports Authority. If we can't do it as the government, can we allow a private sector player to do it at a reasonable or competitive cost and return on investment?" said the former Energy cabinet secretary.