ODM leader Raila Odinga has expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the controversial Adani airport deal.
Speaking during the 3rd National Executive Retreat in Karen on Friday, June 20, Raila lamented that the country lost a strategic opportunity after the deal fell through.
He singled out political maneuvering as the key reason for the deal’s collapse, warning that the fallout from the cancelled deal could affect Nairobi’s relevance.
“Kenya is very strategically located. I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the airport contract. When they brought in Adani, they brought all these politics, and the contract was cancelled. If that is not done, Nairobi will become dormant,” he said.
Ruto ordered the cancellation of the Adani-JKIA expansion deal as well as the Adani-Ketraco deal while issuing the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on November 21, 2024.
As explained by the Head of State, the new orders were informed by new information regarding the integrity of the Indian company.
Ruto was referring to the recent move by US prosecutors to charge Indian billionaire Gautam Adani over bribery claims.
“I have stated in the past, and I reiterate today, that in the face of undisputed evidence or credible information on corruption, I will not hesitate to take decisive action.
“Accordingly, I now direct – in furtherance of the principles enshrined in Article 10 of the Constitution on transparency and accountability, and based on new information provided by our investigative agencies and partner nations – that the procuring agencies within the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum immediately cancel the ongoing procurement process for the JKIA Expansion Public Private Partnership transaction, as well as the recently concluded KETRACO transmission line Public Private Partnership contract,” he directed.
Before the cancellation of the deal, Raila was among the leaders who defended the Adani Group.
Speaking in Mombasa on Sunday, October 13, he claimed that Kenya’s economic challenges necessitate embracing Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to attract investment.
Despite concerns about transparency and investor integrity, Raila argued that Adani’s capabilities surpass those of other firms in East Africa.
“Adani is a credible partner. They have proven their capabilities in projects that surpass what we have seen in East Africa,” he said.
Raila further stated that the Adani Group has been interested in investing in Kenya since 2010, but this interest was hindered by the lack of a proper legal framework for PPPs at the time.
“I have had the chance to interact with the PPP proposals in question, and it is my duty to state what I know about them. When I was the Prime Minister of Kenya, I was introduced to the Adani group of companies and its activities.
“I want to say that there needs to be transparency when dealing with such issues; otherwise, we risk condemning very reputable companies. If there are individuals who have made mistakes, let them own up and admit it, but do not condemn innocent companies that are engaged in legitimate commercial transactions,” he said.
