The company reportedly being considered to take over the planned Ksh375 billion expansion of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), one of the world’s largest state-owned infrastructure firms.
CCCC was involved with the design and construction of two of the most important infrastructure projects in Kenya in the past ten years: the Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway and the Nairobi-Naivasha railway extension.
The company has a huge portfolio in ports, railways and highways and major transportation hubs, making it a possible contender if Kenya decides to move forward with plans for the modernisation of JKIA after the Adani deal fell through. It could also expand China’s presence in Kenya’s infrastructure sector, where its contractors have been at the centre of delivering many flagship projects.
China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) was established on October 8, 2006, following a restructuring initiative approved by China’s State Council and spearheaded by its parent company, China Communications Construction Group (CCCG), a state-owned enterprise supervised by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).
CCCC is the world’s largest port, road and bridge design and construction enterprise, the world’s largest dredging enterprise and the owner of the world’s largest engineering fleet. It has 33 large-scale subsidiaries and is present in 139 countries and regions.
The company has many flagship projects, such as the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, the Shanghai Yangshan Deepwater Port and China’s many high-speed railway networks.
The company made history later that year by becoming the first ultra-large Chinese state-owned infrastructure enterprise to enter the international capital market when its shares were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in December 2006.
In March 2012, CCCC further strengthened its financial standing by listing its A-shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, marking another significant milestone in its growth journey.
Over the years, CCCC has grown into one of the world’s largest and most influential infrastructure companies. It is widely recognised as a leader in transportation infrastructure, with core operations spanning infrastructure construction, engineering design, and dredging.
Drawing on decades of experience and technical expertise gained from major projects across diverse sectors, the company provides integrated solutions covering every stage of infrastructure development, from planning and design to construction and maintenance.
The company is regarded as the world’s largest port, road, and bridge design and construction contractor, as well as the largest dredging company globally. It is also China’s biggest
Its global portfolio includes some of the most ambitious transportation and infrastructure projects ever undertaken, cementing its reputation as a key player in the development of modern infrastructure across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) departure terminal in Nairobi.
This follows a decision in November 2024 by President William Ruto to cancel the deal, which was to involve Adani Group spending billions of shillings on expanding and modernising the country’s busiest airport under a public-private partnership contract.
The cancellation came as the controversy over Gautam Adani and some of his associates over bribery and fraud charges was mounting in the United States.
The Adani Group has dismissed the charges, but the events sparked outrage among the public and further opposition to the JKIA project from politicians, aviation stakeholders, labour unions and civil society activists.
The lack of clarity in the procurement process and the length of the proposed concession had been raised as concerns by critics, along with a question about the effects of the concession on a strategic national asset.
President Ruto, in response, ordered government entities to immediately suspend the procurement of the airport expansion project with Adani and seek alternative investors to finance the project.
Acting CEO accused of running corruption cartel as whistleblowers reveal massive procurement fraud and international sanctions
Kenya’s aviation sector is reeling from explosive revelations that have placed Kenya Airports Authority acting Managing Director Dr. Mohamud M. Gedi at the center of a sprawling corruption scandal involving irregular tenders, abuse of office, and alleged links to narcotics trafficking through the country’s busiest airport.
In what amounts to one of the most brazen cases of procurement fraud in recent memory, The Star has established that Dr. Gedi personally authorized a staggering Sh243 million payment to a politically connected law firm for legal services initially budgeted at just Sh12.5 million, representing a jaw-dropping 1,845 percent cost explosion that has left taxpayers footing a colossal bill.
The payment to Triple OK Law Advocates LLP, a recently incorporated firm with shadowy political ties, was made through direct procurement in what insiders describe as a deliberate circumvention of competitive bidding rules meant to benefit a select few at public expense.
Documents seen by The Star reveal that Dr. Gedi sought retrospective approval for the expenditure on September 25, 2025, after the money had already been committed, raising serious questions about whether oversight institutions at KAA exist in anything more than name.
US SLAMS DOOR ON GEDI
The scandal has taken a dramatic international dimension after it emerged that Dr. Gedi was denied entry into the United States under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a provision typically invoked when applicants pose national security concerns or have integrity issues.
The visa refusal came ahead of a critical aviation security meeting with the US Transportation Security Administration scheduled for September 25, 2025, during the 41st ICAO Assembly in Montreal, a meeting Dr. Gedi was forced to miss.
Sources close to the matter have told Kenya Insights that American authorities flagged Dr. Gedi’s application over suspected corruption in aviation procurement and possible ties to narcotics activities, concerns that gained traction after 20 kilograms of cocaine trafficked through JKIA was seized at London’s Heathrow Airport last month.
The development sent shockwaves through the Ministry of Transport, with Aviation Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika reportedly summoning Dr. Gedi to an emergency Sunday meeting at her office as panic gripped senior officials fearing a looming shakeup at KAA.
CULTURE OF IMPUNITY
The Star has obtained damning testimonies from multiple KAA employees who paint a picture of an institution held hostage by an iron-fisted leader who brooks no dissent and treats public resources as his personal war chest.
“You cannot question him. He keeps saying he is the government and that money answers everything,” a senior staff member revealed on condition of anonymity. “He is the reason Wilson Airport is in such a sorry state. Complaints about facilities go unanswered because decisions are made by one office without consultation.”
Insiders claim that lucrative tenders worth millions have been channeled to politically connected individuals, including a sitting governor from the North Eastern region, in deals that allegedly bypassed standard procurement procedures entirely.
The revelations have also exposed how Dr. Gedi allegedly secured his acting CEO position through a Sh70 million arrangement rather than a transparent selection process, casting doubt on the legitimacy of his tenure from the outset.
ADANI SAGA RETURNS TO HAUNT KAA
The Sh243 million legal fee was ostensibly meant to defend KAA against five petitions challenging the now-cancelled Adani Group proposal to lease JKIA for 30 years in exchange for Sh246 billion in upgrades.
The deal, which collapsed in November 2024 after US prosecutors indicted Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani for alleged bribery, has cost Kenyan taxpayers upwards of Sh500 million in legal fees, application costs, and administrative expenses for contracts that were ultimately scrapped.
Constitutional lawyer Karanja Matindi has questioned why the Attorney General’s office, which is constitutionally mandated under Article 156 to represent government entities, was bypassed entirely in favor of a private firm with questionable credentials.
“This is outrageous. The accountable person should be required to make good this loss of public funds,” Matindi said.
JKIA
The tender process itself was farcical. Opened on January 23, 2025, it attracted exactly one bid. When the evaluation committee recommended re-tendering due to budget constraints, officials overruled the decision, citing urgency and securing a token 10 percent price reduction that still left taxpayers liable for hundreds of millions.
EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT AT MOMBASA
Investigations have also revealed similar irregularities at Moi International Airport in Mombasa, where tenders were processed under what insiders describe as emergency procurement, even when the situations did not appear to constitute genuine emergencies.
Critics have pointed out that the pattern of abuse suggests a coordinated scheme to bypass accountability mechanisms across KAA’s operations, with Dr. Gedi at the epicenter.
Whistleblower Nelson Amenya, whose revelations first torpedoed the Adani deal, has called for citizens to mount a counter petition to compel personal accountability from KAA officials under constitutional provisions allowing Parliament to require accounting officers to personally compensate for financial losses.
CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION
Civil society groups and transparency watchdogs are now demanding urgent intervention from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, which has remained conspicuously silent despite mounting evidence of procurement fraud.
“Our Constitution is supreme. Integrity is the cornerstone of leadership. Chapter Six is clear and we will ensure those abusing public office are removed,” said a senior civil society member.
Parliamentary oversight committees have been urged to summon KAA officials for testimony as pressure mounts for Dr. Gedi and other implicated officers to step aside pending investigations.
For ordinary Kenyans grappling with the high cost of living, the Sh243 million legal fee represents far more than wasted money. It symbolizes a governance system where accountability remains elusive and public resources are treated as personal piggy banks by those entrusted to safeguard them.
The question now is whether this scandal will finally produce consequences or merely add another chapter to Kenya’s long history of procurement controversies that generate outrage but deliver little reform.
With Kenya’s airports serving as crucial gateways for tourism and trade, the integrity of those managing them has never been more critical. As international partners watch closely and domestic pressure builds, Dr. Gedi’s days at the helm of KAA may be numbered.
Official documents reveal how state authority justified bypassing competitive tender for politically connected law firm despite budget being exceeded twentyfold
Public outrage is intensifying across Kenya following revelations that the state-owned Kenya Airports Authority awarded Sh243m ($1.9m) to a newly registered law firm to defend controversial petitions against the now-cancelled Adani Group lease of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The sum is nearly 20 times the original budget allocation.
The procurement process, which bypassed competitive bidding through direct tender provisions, has sparked accusations of systemic corruption and raised fundamental questions about fiscal accountability in one of East Africa’s most consequential infrastructure disputes.
Official correspondence obtained by the public shows KAA’s acting Managing Director Dr Mohamud M. Gedi formally sought approval from the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development on 25 September 2025, requesting retrospective authorization for the inflated expenditure.
The Numbers Behind the Controversy
Documents obtained by whistleblower Nelson Amenya, a Kenyan graduate student who first exposed the Adani airport proposal in July 2024, reveal the Kenya Airports Authority initially budgeted Sh12.5m for legal representation.
The final contracted sum of Sh243,185,700 represents a 1,845 per cent increase from the original budget provision of Sh12.5m.
Triple OK Law Advocates LLP secured the tender through direct procurement citing “urgency” and “prior knowledge” of the case.
The tender was opened on 23 January 2025 and received a single bid from the firm.
According to KAA’s official letter to the ministry, a Tender Evaluation Committee initially recommended re-tendering due to budget constraints.
However, three factors led to a reversal of this position.
First, the committee cited “retrospective procurement,” noting that services were rendered urgently in high-profile, constitutionally sensitive matters already before the courts.
Second, officials argued the firm possessed critical institutional knowledge essential to KAA’s defence.
Third, a 10 per cent price reduction was secured during negotiations held on 2 May 2025, after which the firm successfully delivered on key assignments.
The cost structure breakdown remains opaque.
KAA officials have not disclosed hourly rates, staffing allocations, or disbursement schedules that would justify the expenditure.
This gap violates public procurement transparency standards, critics argue.
Legal and Constitutional Questions
The procurement raises substantive constitutional concerns.
Under Article 156 of Kenya’s Constitution, the Attorney General serves as the principal legal adviser to government entities and represents them in court proceedings. Legal experts question why KAA outsourced representation to a private firm when the AG’s office possesses statutory mandate and existing capacity.
“This is outrageous,” constitutional lawyer Karanja Matindi wrote on social platform X.
“The AG is the mandated person, under Article 156 of the Constitution, to represent KAA in the matter.
The accountable person at KAA should be required to make good this loss of public funds under Article 226(5) of the Constitution.”
Article 226(5) empowers parliament to enact legislation requiring accounting officers to personally compensate for financial losses resulting from willful violations of procurement procedures. However, such provisions have rarely been enforced, contributing to what transparency advocates characterize as a culture of impunity.
The selection of Triple OK Law through direct procurement was processed under Section 103(2)(b) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, which allows for restricted tendering in specific circumstances.
KAA justified this citing the firm’s prior engagement and knowledge of the cases.
However, the provision typically applies to situations where compatibility with existing equipment or services is required, or where only one supplier exists, raising questions about its appropriate application in this instance.
The firm’s recent incorporation and alleged political connections compound perceptions of favouritism. Critics have labelled it “the KANU/Raila Odinga firm,” suggesting links to opposition political machinery.
Five Petitions, One Expensive Defence
The legal fees stem from KAA’s defence against five separate petitions and judicial review matters challenging what became Kenya’s most contentious infrastructure deal. The official letter lists the cases as:
First, Judicial Review Case No. E199/2024 filed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Law Society of Kenya against KAA and four others. Second, Petition No. E366/2024 brought by Isaack Lango Guyo against KAA and two others.
Third, Petition No. E466/2024 filed by Tony Gachoka and another against Adani Group and seven others. Fourth, Petition No. E624/2024 lodged by Kenya Aviation Workers Union against KAA and four others. Fifth, Petition No. E626/2024 brought by Katiba Institute against the State Law Office and others.
The disputes largely question the constitutionality, legality, and procedural compliance of the Privately Initiated Proposal by Adani Airport Holdings Limited for the development and operation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Key issues include public participation, transparency, statutory adherence under the Public Private Partnership Act, and broader implications on national security and management of strategic public assets.
KAA’s letter notes that authority officials were “cited as a respondent in several petitions and judicial review matters arising from the proposed Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) for the development and operation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.”
The Adani Saga: From Secrecy to Scandal
In June 2024, the Adani Group proposed a 30-year lease to modernize JKIA, East Africa’s busiest airport, promising $1.85bn in upgrades. The arrangement would have granted operational control to foreign private interests in exchange for revenue-sharing terms that leaked documents suggested heavily favoured the conglomerate.
Amenya’s disclosure of the proposal in July 2024 triggered immediate backlash.
Aviation workers staged strikes, senators convened emergency hearings, and civil society organizations filed court petitions arguing the deal violated constitutional requirements for public participation and transparent procurement.
Leaked contractual provisions revealed clauses requiring Kenya to compensate Adani if the company failed to achieve projected returns.
This fiscal guarantee could expose taxpayers to hundreds of millions in liabilities, critics warned. Independent feasibility studies commissioned by parliament reportedly questioned the deal’s value proposition, though officials proceeded with negotiations.
The controversy escalated in October 2024 when Kenya’s High Court halted a separate $736m Adani power transmission contract, citing opacity and inadequate stakeholder consultation.
Then in November 2024, United States federal prosecutors indicted Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and seven executives for allegedly orchestrating a $265m bribery scheme to secure contracts in India.
President William Ruto’s administration cancelled both the airport and energy deals within days of the US indictment, but the legal challenges continued as petitioners sought declarations on the procurement processes’ legality. It was this defensive litigation that prompted KAA’s massive legal expenditure.
In his letter seeking ministerial approval, Dr Gedi acknowledged the ballooning costs.
“In view of the expanded scope and evolving nature of the ongoing matters under litigation, the Authority respectfully seeks guidance on the review and adjustment of current budgetary estimates to ensure that they adequately reflect the expanded scope of work, the protracted timelines of the litigation, and the specialized expertise required.”
The letter was accompanied by four supporting documents: the tender document submitted by the bidder, an evaluation report dated 10 February 2025, minutes of a meeting held on 2 May 2025, and a professional opinion dated 4 September 2025.
Dr Gedi requested that the approval be communicated to both the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice, indicating awareness of the sensitive nature of the procurement.
Following the Money
The inflated legal costs represent only a fraction of the Adani affair’s fiscal impact.
Application fees, administrative expenses, and parliamentary inquiry costs have reportedly exceeded Sh500m, according to social media estimates cited by critics.
The cancelled deals themselves involved potential government guarantees worth billions.
Dr Miguna Miguna, a prominent political commentator, characterized the legal fee arrangement as “theft of public resources,” alleging the law firm serves as a conduit. “The law firm is paid, it takes one hundred million and distributes the rest through shell companies and offshore accounts! We know their handwriting!”
Such allegations, whilst unsubstantiated, reflect deep public cynicism about procurement integrity.
Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Kenya 123rd of 180 countries, with public procurement identified as a key vulnerability.
Nelson Amenya questioned the process directly.
“Have they disclosed how much they have paid and to whom? They meandered between the quotation by their handpicked firm and the ‘budget’ and failed to say how they got the hundreds of millions to bridge the gap. Mere applications cost Kenyans a half a billion shillings? Completely crazy!”
Amenya has called for citizens to file counter-petitions challenging the legal expenditure. “Can we file a counter petition?” he asked on X, suggesting litigation to compel personal accountability from KAA officials under constitutional provisions.
ScreenshotScreenshot
Accountability Vacuum
The controversy exposes systemic weaknesses in Kenya’s public finance management. Whilst constitutional and statutory frameworks mandate competitive procurement, transparency, and personal accountability for officials, enforcement mechanisms remain inconsistent.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Kenya’s primary anti-graft agency, has not publicly announced investigations into the KAA procurement. Parliamentary oversight committees, which possess subpoena powers, have yet to summon officials for testimony on the cost inflation.
This accountability vacuum perpetuates what activists describe as “budgeted corruption.” The practice involves building inflated costs into initial appropriations to obscure subsequent misallocation.
The Sh12.5m to Sh243m trajectory suggests either gross initial underestimation or deliberate budget manipulation to accommodate predetermined recipients.
The timing of KAA’s request for ministerial approval on 25 September 2025, months after services had been rendered and contracts executed, raises further questions about governance protocols. The letter’s reference to seeking “guidance on the review and adjustment of current budgetary estimates” suggests retrospective authorization for expenditure already incurred.
The country requires substantial capital investment to maintain competitiveness, yet procurement scandals repeatedly undermine investor confidence and drain public resources.
The episode also highlights tensions between executive urgency and democratic oversight. Officials justified direct procurement citing litigation deadlines and the need for firms with institutional knowledge.
Yet critics argue proper planning would have enabled competitive bidding without compromising legal defence, and question why the Attorney General’s office could not have handled the cases.
The justification that Triple OK Law Advocates possessed “critical institutional knowledge essential to the Authority’s defence” raises additional concerns.
If the firm gained this knowledge through previous engagement, questions arise about when and how that initial relationship was established, and whether it too bypassed competitive procurement.
As legal proceedings continue, the Sh243m fee has become a focal point for public frustration with opacity in government contracting.
Whether accountability mechanisms will produce consequences for officials or merely generate further rhetoric remains uncertain.
What is certain is that Kenyan taxpayers are bearing the cost, not only in shillings spent, but in eroded trust in institutions meant to safeguard the public interest. The scandal has reignited calls for comprehensive procurement reform and stronger enforcement of existing anti-corruption statutes.
Public pressure continues to mount on social media platforms, where citizens are documenting the expenditure and demanding answers.
The Kenya Kwanza government faces growing scrutiny over its handling of major infrastructure projects and the transparency of its decision-making processes.
Kenya’s aviation sector faces imminent disruption as the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has issued a seven-day strike notice to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), threatening to paralyze operations at the country’s busiest airport from October 1.
The industrial action comes amid explosive claims by union leaders that the government is testing public opinion for a potential revival of the controversial Adani Group deal to lease Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), using former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a conduit.
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema has accused Odinga of serving as a front for interests seeking to resurrect the multi-billion-dollar airport modernization project that President William Ruto terminated in November last year following corruption allegations against the Indian conglomerate.
“When you hear Raila Odinga talking about Adani, he is testing the waters. He is being used to test the waters. And for a fact, Raila had a share in the Adani deal,” Ndiema declared, responding to Odinga’s Monday criticism of protesters who opposed the original agreement.
The ODM leader had defended the scrapped deal, arguing that Kenya “squandered a massive opportunity to modernise its main airport” and claiming Adani came to invest rather than exploit the country’s resources. However, Ndiema dismissed these assertions, alleging that Adani intended to use JKIA as collateral to secure loans rather than inject fresh capital.
“They were not coming here to invest even a cent. They wanted to use JKIA as collateral to borrow money. If that is the case, the KAA can use that collateral to borrow money directly. Do we need a middleman?” Ndiema questioned.
The union’s strike threat extends beyond the Adani controversy, encompassing six critical demands that paint a picture of systemic dysfunction at KAA. Chief among these is what Ndiema terms a “loss of faith in the KAA Board of Directors,” citing poor governance and systemic inefficiencies that led to questionable decisions including the now-defunct Adani lease arrangement.
The workers are particularly incensed by the proposed transfer of the Ground Flight Safety department from KAA to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, a move they warn could trigger massive job losses and revenue hemorrhaging. Additionally, the union demands confirmation of over 500 contract employees to permanent terms, issuance of substantive appointment letters to promoted staff, and settlement of six months’ overtime dues for Wilson Airport personnel.
Perhaps most damaging to staff morale is the alleged “crippling and dismantling” of the Human Resources department, which union officials say has paralyzed staff welfare and stalled collective bargaining processes.
The timing of the strike threat is particularly sensitive, coming as Kenya’s aviation sector seeks to recover from years of operational challenges and as JKIA handles increasing passenger traffic. Any industrial action would likely affect thousands of travelers and could damage Kenya’s reputation as a regional aviation hub.
President Ruto’s dramatic cancellation of the Adani deals in November followed mounting pressure from civil society groups, opposition politicians, and aviation workers who questioned the transparency of the procurement process. The President cited “credible information” about corruption within the Indian conglomerate as justification for the termination.
However, Ndiema’s latest allegations suggest that powerful interests may be maneuvering behind the scenes to revive aspects of the partnership, using Odinga’s recent public statements as a trial balloon to gauge public sentiment.
The union has demanded that Odinga release Adani’s original proposal for public scrutiny, challenging the former premier to demonstrate the supposed benefits of the arrangement he continues to champion.
With the seven-day ultimatum now running, KAA management faces the urgent task of addressing the workers’ grievances or risk a complete shutdown of airport operations. The authority has yet to respond publicly to the strike notice, but the implications for Kenya’s aviation sector and broader economy could be severe if the dispute remains unresolved.
The unfolding crisis exposes deeper governance challenges within Kenya’s aviation sector and raises uncomfortable questions about the transparency of major infrastructure deals, even as the specter of the controversial Adani partnership refuses to disappear from public discourse.
Nelson Amenya, the whistleblower who exposed the contentious 2024 deal between the Kenyan government and India’s Adani Group over Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), has reignited public debate with new allegations.
Amenya claims that the Kenyan government is negotiating to transfer control of JKIA, East Africa’s largest aviation hub, to a Dubai-based firm with possible connections to the Adani Group.
The 30-year-old activist, currently studying in France, further asserts that the deal would use Kenyan taxpayers as a sovereign guarantee, raising concerns about transparency and fiscal responsibility.
Amenya’s latest statements, suggest that the Kenyan government is engaging with an unnamed Middle Eastern company to lease JKIA.
He speculates that the Adani Group—previously involved in a now-canceled $1.85 billion airport deal—may be involved through a Dubai-based entity.
“The Kenyan government is planning to give the airport to some company in Dubai (being a tax haven, it could be Adani behind it) and will use the country’s balance sheet as a sovereign guarantee,” Amenya stated, questioning the legitimacy of the arrangement.
“If a company has the money and they believe the airport is a worthy investment, why would they need taxpayers to underwrite the deal?”
The timing of Amenya’s claims coincides with Kenya’s recent acquisition of a Ksh193 billion ($1.5 billion) loan from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at an 8.2% interest rate, expected to be disbursed in February 2025.
This financial agreement has prompted speculation about potential connections to the alleged airport deal, particularly given Dubai’s status as a financial hub.
Social media has been abuzz with many suggesting that a “makeshift proxy company linked with Adani” in Dubai could be positioned to take over JKIA.
Amenya’s earlier exposé in July 2024 revealed negotiations between the Kenyan government and Adani Airport Holdings Limited for a 30-year lease of JKIA.
The proposed $2 billion deal, which included refurbishing terminals and building a new runway, was criticized for its lack of transparency and competitive bidding.
Documents leaked by Amenya showed that Adani sought an 18% equity stake in JKIA even after the lease period, control over airport fees, and tax exemptions, prompting widespread public concern.
The deal was halted by the High Court in September 2024 and officially canceled by President William Ruto in November 2024, following a U.S. federal indictment of Adani Group directors for alleged bribery.
The whistleblower’s actions have earned him both acclaim and challenges.
Praised by many Kenyans—some on social media even proposed renaming JKIA “Nelson Amenya International Airport”—he has faced significant personal risks.
Amenya, who has been studying in France since the initial exposé, claims to have received threats and states that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has made accusations about his carbon credit firm.
“If you are in Kenya, you will be targeted by the police, by mercenaries, you might even lose your life,” he told AFP in October 2024.
The Kenyan government has not yet responded directly to Amenya’s latest allegations.
In 2024, officials, including government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, maintained that JKIA was not for sale and that Adani’s proposal was under review with safeguards to protect national interests.
However, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) faced criticism for reportedly approving Adani’s initial proposal quickly, with questions raised about adherence to Kenya’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act requirements for an open tender process.
Critics argue that JKIA, which reportedly generates revenue equivalent to 5% of Kenya’s GDP, is too strategically important to be leased under unclear terms.
While the 2024 deal’s cancellation was viewed by many as a victory for public advocacy, Amenya’s new claims suggest ongoing concerns about transparency.
Nelson Amenya, a a renowned whistleblower and digital activist, says he cannot return to Kenya after exposing a controversial $2 billion airport deal involving India’s Adani Group.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Amenya linked his safety concerns to President William Ruto’s administration, stating, “I can’t return to Kenya after exposing the Adani scandal—maybe only when Ruto goes.”
Amenya, once an implementing manager at Carrefour’s Kenyan franchise, blew the whistle on the proposed 30-year lease of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Adani Group in July 2023.
The deal, which he exposed via a tweet that garnered over a million views, promised modernization but was criticized for its lack of transparency and plans to slash jobs.
Public outrage and Amenya’s revelations triggered a chain of events that led to its initial cancellation.
However, the victory came at a steep personal cost. “I’ve received threats that will keep me out of Kenya for the foreseeable future,” Amenya told Bloomberg.
He believes these threats stem from powerful figures tied to the deal, which had early backing from President Ruto’s government.
“So many people have been killed, kidnapped—some found alive, some dead—for small things like posting criticisms online,” he said, underscoring the risks he faces.
The Adani deal resurfaced in 2024, only to face legal challenges and protests.
In September, the Kenyan High Court suspended it, and airport workers took to the streets, chanting “Adani must go,” causing flight disruptions.
On November 21, 2024, President Ruto canceled the deal—along with a $736 million energy contract with Adani—following US indictments against the conglomerate’s founder, Gautam Adani, for fraud.
Despite this, Amenya remains wary, suggesting his exile may persist until Ruto, who assumed office in September 2022, leaves power.
“I really love my country,” Amenya said, reflecting on his motivation. A self-described patriot, he aimed to use his education to combat Kenya’s “tribal and kingpin politics.”
His journey took a pivotal turn during the 2023 protests against a contentious finance bill, when a government source tipped him off about the airport deal via X.
“After seeing my fellow Kenyans dying on the street, I thought, ‘If these people paid the ultimate price, the least I could do is expose this,’” he recounted.
The fallout has been bittersweet.
While Amenya’s actions may have inspired a generation to demand accountability, he now lives in limbo, unable to return home.
“Of course, I will go back to Kenya—it may be after this government is out of power,” he told Bloomberg, hinting at a long wait given Ruto’s term could extend to 2032 (since he plans to seek reelection in 2027) unless political shifts occur sooner.
Critics, including the Law Society of Kenya, had slammed the deal as a threat to national interests. Ruto’s eventual reversal came amid international pressure, but for Amenya, it hasn’t erased the personal risks tied to his whistleblowing.
As of now, Amenya’s future remains uncertain.
His story is a stark reminder of the high stakes faced by those who challenge power in Kenya—and the enduring hope that political change might one day pave the way for his return.
The government could have been quietly engaging Adani Group to lease Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for over a year, fresh details have emerged in court.
In a case where President William Ruto’s principal economic advisor David Ndii is named as a person who had been aware of the deal, it is alleged that the Indian conglomerate through Adani Airports Holding Ltd – had on April 25, 2023, submitted to Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) a privately initiated proposal (PIP) for development of JKIA under public-private partnership arrangement.
According to Tony Gachoka, Jubilee Party, Wiper Party, Democratic Action Party Kenya (DAP-K) and Mount Kenya, Adani PIP was copied to Ndii, the National Treasury and the Ministry of Roads and Transport.
However, Gachoka’s lawyer Ndegwa Njiru claims that they remained tight-lipped about the deal until this year when Adani allegedly floated its PIP.
Adani in its case claimed that it floated the idea to refurbish JKIA on March 1, 2024, after seeing the deteriorating state of the international airport in the media.
However, the Njiru alleged that the deal was being worked backwards in order to favour the firm. He argued that the idea to directly procure the construction of a new passenger terminal at JKIA was done with the Adani Group in mind.
The lawyer alleged that through a contract dated December 13, 2023, KAA procured advisory services for the construction of a new passenger terminal building at JKIA.
He told the court the team recommended an Airport PPP as opposed to a terminals PIP as the most beneficial to Kenya.
President William Ruto’s adviser David Ndii.
“Unsurprisingly, on March 1, 2024, the second respondent submitted to the KAA its PIP for the development of JKIA under PPP arrangements. On the same day, the JKIA submitted the said proposal to the 9th respondent PS Mohammed Daghar who on the same day submitted the proposal to the PS National Treasury Chris Kiptoo. The petitioners earnestly believe these activities did not take place on 1 March 2024 as demonstrated,” argued Ndegwa.
The court heard that contrary to the government’s claim that Adani was the only firm interested in developing JKIA, other firms had floated their proposals. The lawyer claimed that Abu Dhabi, China Road and Bridge Corporation and Motar Etgil Africa/Corporation America JV had proposed to develop JKIA through PPP. He said that despite the documents being before KAA), the government never disclosed them same to the public.
“By a further letter dated June 12, 2023, referencing “Proposed Construction of a Second Runway at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) the 9th respondent PS Mohamed Daghar stated that the KAA had not formally submitted the PIP submitted by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd and their preliminary appraisal of the same,” claimed Ndegwa.. He further claimed that PIP for JKIA submitted by Adani is lopsided and subversive of Kenya’s public interest.
Ndegwa said that despite the government drumming up for the firm to take over JKIA for 30 years, no one can put a finger on how much Adani had invested or will pump to the project.
The lawyer alleged that the Indian firm is being gifted JKIA without paying a penny.
“Adani Group PIP does not specify the exact amount to be invested despite the fact that investment is the principal criterion for PPP under the 2011 Policy on PPPs and subsequent legislations. For all practical purposes, the existing and potential revenue of JKIA are simply being transferred to the 2nd Respondent and its undisclosed Kenyan partners to invest for their private gain. This is a clear case of sovereign robbery,” claimed Ndegwa.
The court heard that the government is going against a 2019 Parliament report that shielded JKIA from privatization or control by foreigners.
MPs have ordered a forensic audit on the deal between Kenya Airports Authority and India’s conglomerate Adani Holdings on the proposed upgrade of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy wants the auditor general to establish how Adani became part of the deal.
The committee, at the same time, directed that KAA stops any further engagements on the Adani proposal. There are active court orders on the same.
“It is the advice of the committee that you don’t do anything with Adani until this committee reports this matter to Parliament,” said PIC chairman David Pkosing (Pokot South MP).
MPs warned KAA acting CEO Henry Ogoye of serious ramifications in the event of any breach of the directive.
“You will carry personal responsibility. The House with the power to do these things is the National Assembly. We will do our work as a committee,” Pkosing said.
He directed that a special audit report be tabled by the end of October.
MPs want the auditor to ascertain the estimated figure of upgrading the airport and how the $1.83 billion (Sh230 billion) was arrived at as the cost of improvements.
Auditors will also ascertain the scope of the package in terms of building a new terminal and a second runway.
MPs want auditors to find out the best way to identify a private sector player and whether a privately initiated investment proposal was the best route.
“The question we seek information on is whether there is an alternative way to save people money instead of the PIIP route,” Pkosing said.
How the arrangement affects other airports and aerodromes which depend on JKIA for survival will also be established.
The auditor will also assess how the private manager will work with the national airline and what happens with KAA staff.
The call for an audit came after KAA acting managing director Henry Ogoye was hard-pressed to give the committee answers.
Among the issues PIC raised was the speed at which Adani came in; being two weeks after a Spanish consultant ALG issued a feasibility report.
“How did you procure the consultant that did the feasibility study? How did Adani know there was a proposal on the table? Did you tailor-make this deal for them? Is it the only one in the whole world?” the members asked.
“We cannot avoid a special audit on the Adani deal. There is a high trust deficit in the country because of corruption. People think of deals being made when it comes to such projects,” Pkosing said.
“How can a Kenyan understand how an investor knocked on doors two weeks later after the feasibility report was published? It implies that Adani participated in the research.”
The committee pointed to an inside job. “There was a mischief and an inside job in bringing Adani on board.”
It said the call for audit does not mean that KAA should “kill the good dream of upgrading JKIA.”
“Greenfield was killed by unscrupulous people…if we don’t do anything, JKIA is going to die. All we are saying is that we should involve Kenyans,” Pkosing said.
Ogoye, in his submissions, said the authority did a study and found that equipment used at JKIA was obsolete.
But MPs questioned how KAA allowed the deterioration yet it makes profits every year.
“You collect revenue and report profits, why not plough it back to improve technology and equipment?” Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo, PIC vice chair, said.
The committee further wants answers on how Adani paid $50,000 (Sh6.4 million) before an agreement is signed.
“Was the public involved? Were elected representatives involved? Was the power of intent exercised?” MPs asked.
Ogoye said the money paid by Adani follows a law which requires that once a proposal is evaluated, the bidder pays the amount.
“If there is any contract to be signed, it has to be done by me and I have not done anything,” the MD said.
He said the upgrade was necessary as JKIA facilities are already overstretched.
“We are behind in terms of infrastructure. Our capacity is for 7.5 million passengers. Last fiscal year, we handled 8.6 million. The terminal capacity is below the demand,” Ogoye said.
JKIA should handle 35 flights per hour but currently does only 32 and has no space for parking cargo aircraft.
“We should park 68 aircraft but we can only park nine cargo aircraft at ago now, forcing cargo aircraft to use passenger parking,” the MD explained.
KAA did two feasibility studies as the initial one did not cover JKIA-specific issues.
“We could not make an investment decision with the December 2022 report. We did a detailed report on JKIA,” Ogoye said.
It emerged that the consultant did a feasibility study which was released in February 16, 2024 and Adani submitted its proposal a week later.
The same consultant handled the feasibility study of the viability of the KAA facilities and issued a report in December 2022.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi was yesterday at pains to defend the government’s decision to accept the Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) by Adani Holdings Limited to develop and expand the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Mbadi who appeared before the Senate Roads, Transportation and Housing Committee was taken to task to shed light on whether due diligence was carried on the company to determine whether it is debarred by any country or any international organisation from participating in Public Private Partnerships, whether the company is corrupt, is insolvent and is tax compliant in all jurisdiction.
The questions came after documents presented to the committee showed that Adani Holdings provided its own sworn affidavit to prove that it was tax compliant as well as Mbadi’s own admission that although most of the background information they checked on the World Bank website, they only visited the mother company in India to check on compliance.
It is after his admission that the session took a new twist as heated exchanges ensued between him and the senators who accused him of trying to conceal information on the controversial deal..
The committee chairperson and Kiambu senator Karungo Thang’wa, Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi) and Richard Onyonka (Kisii), said the mess in the whole deal regards the manner in which the Public Private Partnership (PPP) committee domiciled at the National Treasury approved the entire deal.
Sifuna took Mbadi to task over the decisions made by the PPP committee seeking to know whether he was aware that they are subject to appeal.
To keep jobs
He also sought to know whether all employees of JKIA would keep their jobs if Adani took over the management of JKIA.
Said Sifuna: “The approval by the PPP committee is the crux of the matter. Mr CS, you were supposed to confirm whether this company has been suspended from doing business in the world and is not subject to any legal proceedings. Did you do this because the documents you have submitted here show that they swore their own affidavits? Also please confirm what Adani said to the employees.”
And before he could answer, Onyonka intervened, accusing Mbadi of being a gatekeeper to some unknown individuals.
Said Onyonka: “Mr CS what happened to you, why are you being a gatekeeper? This is a matter you cannot keep at all.”
Onyonka also sought to know whether other companies expressed interest in taking part in the deal and whether the Treasury officials had visited India on a fact-finding mission. Sifuna on his part accused Mbadi of heckling after he raised his voice while responding to some of the questions.
Said Sifuna: “Hon CS you are actually heckling now (instead of) answering the questions. Mr. Chair if the CS is tired of answering questions let him tell us. We are not here to be friends with him, we want the truth.”
Mother country
Thang’wa separately sought to know whether the government only checked compliance with the mother country India yet the law required them to check due diligence to confirm whether the company is debarred in any country in the world.
He also sought to know whether Mbadi saw any problem as it is clear the issue of Adani was only dispensed within ten days in March this year, yet the proposal for expansion of JKIA was done a year ago.
But in his defence of the government’s decision, Mbadi, although admitted that there are gaps that they are currently addressing, said that thorough due diligence was yet to be completed following the high court case stopping further dealings on the matter.
He said that a team comprising Kenya Airports Authority, the State Department of Transport, the State Law Office and the Public Private Partnership Directorate of the National Treasury is in the process of undertaking a comprehensive due diligence exercise to establish the requisite capacity of Adani Airport Holdings Limited to undertake the project.
He however clarified that in the preliminary due diligence that they carried out on the company they checked the World Bank website to confirm that the company is compliant.
Mbadi who was accompanied by PPP director General Christopher Kirigua while confirming that the PPP committee had approved the deal, clarified that it made it clear that they would not proceed to the development stage if the 22 issues it raised including ensuring that all employees onboarded are not met.
Davis Chirchir is no stranger to controversy. Once a promising figure in Kenyan politics, Chirchir has built a reputation clouded with scandal, corruption, and questionable dealings.
Now, as Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS), he finds himself embroiled in yet another storm—the controversial Adani-JKIA deal.
This is the man President William Ruto has trusted to oversee a deal that has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns among Kenyans.
Davis Chirchir and His History of Corruption Allegations
Chirchir’s career has been marred by corruption allegations dating back to 2013. When he was first appointed as Energy and Petroleum CS by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, he seemed poised for success. However, his reputation took a nosedive in 2015 after he was suspended following accusations of involvement in corruption.
One of the darkest moments in Chirchir’s career was his connection to the infamous “Chicken Gate” scandal.
In 2009, as the Information Technology Director of the defunct Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC), Chirchir was accused of receiving bribes from U.K.-based firm Smith and Ouzman.
The firm paid millions of shillings to Kenyan election officials to secure lucrative contracts for printing ballot papers.
Chirchir resigned after being named in the scandal, along with other notable figures such as former IIEC Chief Executive Officer James Oswago, Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Boss, and former Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Boss Paul Wasanga.
Despite his resignation and the weight of these accusations, Chirchir’s political career was far from over.
The Return to Power
In September 2022, Chirchir was appointed Chief of Staff at the Executive Office of the President. Before that, he had served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy President, working under President William Ruto.
His close ties to Ruto have been instrumental in his political survival, despite his tarnished image. Chirchir’s political ascent continued when he replaced the late Ken Osinde as Chief of Staff in March 2022.
His reappointment raised eyebrows, given his involvement in the “Chicken Gate” scandal and other allegations of electoral fraud.
Critics have argued that his IT background and involvement in the IIEC made him a key figure in Kenya’s controversial elections, with allegations swirling that he leveraged his position to manipulate election outcomes.
The Controversial Adani-JKIA Deal
Now, Chirchir is at the center of another scandal—the Adani-JKIA deal. This controversial agreement involves handing over the management of Kenya’s largest airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), to Adani Holdings, an Indian conglomerate with a reputation for corruption.
The deal has sparked widespread outrage among the public and aviation workers, who fear job losses and the erosion of Kenya’s sovereignty over critical infrastructure.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWI) has been vocal in its opposition to the deal, demanding that President Ruto’s government disclose the details of the lease agreement with the Adani Group.
KAWI has even threatened to strike if the deal goes through without proper transparency and safeguards for workers.
The concerns are not unfounded. Adani Group, owned by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, has a checkered history.
Despite being one of India’s largest conglomerates with interests in energy, agribusiness, and airports, Adani has faced accusations of fraud, insider trading, and political favoritism.
Adani’s close ties to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have raised eyebrows, especially as the company continues to expand its influence globally, including in Kenya.
Lack of Transparency and Public Outcry
The lack of transparency surrounding the Adani-JKIA deal has only fueled public anger. Aviation workers argue that the deal has been shrouded in secrecy, with no clear terms presented to the public.
This opacity has led to speculation that the deal may serve the interests of a select few rather than the Kenyan people.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) have taken legal action to halt the deal, winning a temporary delay from the High Court.
They argue that the lease agreement lacks transparency and violates Kenya’s constitution, which mandates public participation in such decisions.
The court’s decision has temporarily paused the handover of JKIA to Adani, but the battle is far from over.
Davis Chirchir As The Corrupt Man in Charge
Davis Chirchir’s involvement in the Adani-JKIA deal raises serious questions about the integrity of the process.
With a history tainted by corruption allegations, Chirchir’s appointment as the overseer of such a significant and controversial deal seems like a move designed to benefit the elite at the expense of ordinary Kenyans.
His previous scandals, including the “Chicken Gate” debacle, have shown that Chirchir is no stranger to underhanded deals.
Chirchir’s close ties to Ruto suggest that he may be leveraging his position to push through the Adani deal without addressing the concerns of the public and aviation workers.
As the man in charge of Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Ministry, Chirchir is now a key player in a government that appears increasingly willing to make backroom deals with foreign conglomerates.
The Adani-JKIA deal is just the latest example of how Chirchir’s involvement in Kenyan politics has led to widespread distrust and concern over the country’s future.
What’s Next for JKIA?
The fate of JKIA is still unclear. The High Court has temporarily delayed the Adani deal, but the public and aviation workers keep demanding transparency and accountability.
With Davis Chirchir in charge of the negotiations, many fear the deal will go through despite public concerns.
Critics argue that JKIA’s management should stay under Kenyan control and that any agreement with foreign companies should protect the interests of Kenyan workers and the public.
The secrecy around the Adani deal has strengthened the belief that Chirchir and the government are more focused on personal gain than protecting Kenya’s interests.
