(Kenya) – Indian billionaire Gautam Adani faces allegations of bribing his way to billion dollar contracts, with controversial deals now under fire in Kenya involving major energy and airport projects.
Gautam Adani’s troubles have gone global, and Kenya is no exception. After US prosecutors indicted the Indian billionaire over a massive Sh34 billion bribery scheme ($265 million), Kenya’s ongoing flirtation with the Adani Group has raised eyebrows higher than Mount Longonot.
Adani, whose company has faced allegations from Bangladesh to Australia, Myanmar, and now Kenya, seems to be collecting controversies like a boda-boda rider collects passengers during rush hour.
Kenya’s Adani Scandal: From Airports to Power Lines
Kenya has been dealing with the Adani Group’s presence through several Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deals, including energy projects and airport upgrades. But not everyone is thrilled.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah declared, “Adani must be kicked out of Kenya. There are no two ways about it,” accusing government bodies of rubber-stamping deals without proper scrutiny.
| Concerns with Adani Projects | Details |
|---|---|
| Alleged Bribery | Sh34 billion ($265 million) bribe paid to secure contracts in India. |
| Environmental Violations | Accusations of harming ecosystems and displacing communities globally. |
| Financial Misconduct | Stock manipulation claims led to major losses in market value. |
| Bangladesh Power Crisis | Overpricing and halved electricity supply due to unpaid $800 million bill. |
The Kenyan government has defended its partnership with Adani, despite the company’s tarnished reputation. Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi emphasized “due diligence” was conducted, but critics aren’t buying it.
In the US case, Adani and his nephew allegedly used bribes to secure India’s largest solar project, promising profits worth Sh259 billion ($2 billion) over two decades. Meanwhile, Adani companies reportedly concealed corruption to secure Sh387 billion ($3 billion) in loans.
Kenya’s Love-Hate Affair with PPPs
President William Ruto has lauded the PPP model for reducing taxpayer burdens, likening Adani’s investment in power transmission to the Nairobi Expressway. But even with Ruto’s praise, protests have emerged from all corners, with accusations that Kenya’s deals with Adani are about as transparent as a matatu tout’s ticketing system.
| Key Projects in Kenya | Cost (in KES) | Cost (in USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Ketraco-Adani Transmission Line | Sh95.7 billion | $634 million |
| Nairobi Expressway | Privately Funded | $600 million |
Kenya isn’t the first to raise red flags over Adani. The conglomerate has faced a laundry list of accusations, from environmental degradation in Australia to labor violations in Indonesia. In Bangladesh, protests erupted over skyrocketing energy costs, while India has seen public outrage over Adani’s alleged stock manipulation.
Recently, Switzerland froze Sh40 billion ($310 million) linked to the group over money laundering claims.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga weighed in, defending the PPP model but warning of weak laws that could undermine such deals. “If we plant doubts about PPPs, we risk a prolonged drought in development,” he argued, adding that failing to embrace such models could see Kenya fall behind regional rivals like Tanzania and Ethiopia.
Still, the debate is raging on: Is Adani a trustworthy partner, or is Kenya courting disaster like a chicken wandering into a hyena’s den?