A controversial solar power project linked to Harun Aydin, the Turkish businessman who was deported from Kenya in 2021 but maintains close ties to President William Ruto, is raising serious questions about transparency and due diligence in the country’s renewable energy sector.
Unit 2HA Investment Energy Africa, a company where Aydin is listed as director and shareholder, has secured environmental approval to develop a 50-megawatt solar plant in Laikipia County despite glaring inconsistencies in its project proposal.
The firm’s estimated budget of Sh155.47 million for the project appears woefully inadequate, representing less than three percent of what similar projects typically cost.
Industry standards suggest that solar plants cost approximately $1 million per megawatt to construct, which would put Aydin’s project at around Sh6.4 billion rather than the declared Sh155 million.
This massive discrepancy becomes even more puzzling when compared to other solar initiatives in Kenya, where 40MW plants have required budgets exceeding Sh6 billion.
The project’s land requirements also defy conventional wisdom. While most solar installations in Kenya operate on 300 to 600 acres, Aydin’s venture proposes using 3,000 acres for a 50MW plant.
A cancelled project of similar scope in the same Rumuruti location was planned for just 300 acres at a cost of Sh6.7 billion.
Aydin’s return to prominence in Kenya’s business landscape marks a remarkable rehabilitation for someone who was detained and deported over allegations of terrorism financing and money laundering.
His deportation came during a period of political tension between then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, with the Turkish businessman caught in the crossfire of their deteriorating relationship.
The businessman’s fortunes changed dramatically following Ruto’s ascension to the presidency in August 2022.
Aydin has since been linked to significant government contracts, including participation in Kenya’s affordable housing program through his company MHOA Africa Limited, which is part of a joint venture tasked with building over 100,000 homes.
What makes the solar project particularly concerning is the apparent disconnect between regulatory oversight and project implementation.
While the National Environment Management Authority has approved the project, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority confirmed it has yet to receive any permit application from the company.
The timing and circumstances surrounding this project highlight broader questions about governance and the influence of personal relationships in awarding government contracts.
Aydin’s presence at State House functions and his companies’ success in securing major deals despite his controversial past suggests a level of access that bypasses normal vetting processes.
Kenya’s push toward renewable energy is commendable, with solar power currently contributing 3.6 percent of the country’s electricity generation.
However, the integrity of this transition depends on transparent procurement processes and realistic project proposals that can actually deliver the promised outcomes.
As the country grapples with energy security and the need for sustainable power generation, projects like Aydin’s solar venture serve as a test case for whether Kenya can balance its development needs with proper governance standards.
The discrepancies in this proposal demand thorough investigation before any further approvals are granted.
The energy sector’s credibility hinges on ensuring that all players, regardless of their political connections, meet the same rigorous standards for project viability and transparency.
In a stunning revelation of corporate dishonesty, Jasir Contractors, a firm so cash-strapped it couldn’t settle a mere Sh1.8 million debt, has had its questionable Sh2 billion affordable housing contract revoked after a procurement board uncovered what appears to be a web of deception and preferential treatment.
The Public Procurement and Administrative Review Board (PPARB) canceled the lucrative Loitoktok, Kajiado County housing tender awarded to Jasir in January, following revelations that the company misrepresented its financial capacity while the State Department for Housing deliberately overlooked “glaring alterations” and “multiple inconsistencies” in the company’s bid documents.
Too Broke to Pay, Rich Enough to Build?
Court records paint a damning picture of Jasir Contractors’ true financial state. While pursuing a multi-billion shilling government contract, the company’s director, Jasper Ireri Mbungu, was simultaneously pleading poverty in court to avoid paying creditors.
“The 1st defendant [Jasir Contractors], being the principal judgment debtor herein, has been having financial challenges,” court documents reveal. So dire was the company’s financial situation that Mbungu was jailed for 30 days until January 5, 2024, for failing to pay a Sh1.8 million debt to Aakash Limited.
After his release, Mbungu promised to make monthly installments of Sh75,000 – a commitment the company failed to honor, resulting in another arrest warrant that Mbungu has only escaped through a High Court injunction.
A Pattern of Financial Deception
The financial troubles don’t end there. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) successfully pursued the company for Sh4.2 million in unpaid taxes linked to undeclared supply deals worth Sh109.9 million with Meru County Investment and Development Corporation between 2017 and 2021.
Despite these glaring red flags that should have disqualified Jasir Contractors during financial evaluation, the State Department for Housing awarded them the Sh2.179 billion tender on January 24, 2025 – raising serious questions about the integrity of the procurement process.
Unfair Advantage Exposed
The PPARB investigation revealed that the housing department unfairly disqualified competing bids, including one from Jijenge Precast and Construction Ltd that offered to complete the project for Sh63 million less than Jasir’s bid.
“The evaluation report did not justify as to why the successful bidder’s errors, alteration, omissions and commissions were overlooked while the applicant’s bid was deemed non-responsive for lesser discrepancies,” the PPARB stated, accusing the housing department of failing to uphold “principles of fairness, transparency, and equal treatment.”
The apparent favoritism shown to a company with documented financial problems has cast a shadow over Kenya’s ambitious affordable housing program, which aims to build over 250,000 homes annually and is partially funded by the controversial 1.5 percent housing levy deducted from Kenyans’ salaries since July last year.
Questions of Cronyism
Industry insiders question how a little-known firm registered in 2014, with a history of debt problems and tax evasion, could have been entrusted with a project that requires substantial upfront capital investment.
This case follows another controversial award to MHOA Africa Limited, owned by Harun Aydin, a Turkish businessman with close ties to President William Ruto who was previously deported from Kenya in 2021. These patterns have fueled growing concerns about possible cronyism in the allocation of lucrative housing contracts.
For now, the PPARB has ordered the State Department for Housing to readmit and review the previously disqualified bids, but the damage to public trust in the procurement process may prove harder to repair than any housing deficit.
As millions of Kenyans continue contributing to the housing levy, many are left wondering: Who is really benefiting from Kenya’s affordable housing program?
Harun Aydin, a Turkish businessman once deported from Kenya on suspicion of terrorism financing and money laundering, has emerged as a key beneficiary of President William Ruto’s multi-billion-shilling affordable housing program.
Aydin’s company, MHOA Africa Limited, has secured a lucrative contract to construct at least 100,000 homes under the government’s ambitious housing initiative. This development has raised serious questions about transparency, the influence of politically connected individuals in state contracts, and the integrity of public procurement processes.
From Deportation to Multi-Billion Deals
The deal, awarded to a joint venture between MHOA Africa and Demir Group, positions Aydin at the forefront of Kenya’s affordable housing agenda—a flagship project of the Ruto administration. The project is partially funded by a controversial housing levy, which deducts 1.5 percent of workers’ gross monthly pay, sparking widespread public outcry over increased taxation.
Aydin’s rise to prominence in Kenya’s lucrative housing sector is remarkable, given his controversial past. In August 2021, he was detained and deported by Kenyan authorities, who labeled him a suspect in terrorism financing and money laundering. At the time, Aydin was part of a delegation scheduled to accompany then-Deputy President Ruto on a trip to Uganda. However, the trip was abruptly blocked by immigration officials, who cited high-level intelligence concerns.
While the State linked Aydin to illegal activities, Ruto vehemently defended him, calling him a “victim of top-down arrogance bred by patronage and cartels that criminalize enterprise.” In a tweet on August 7, 2021, Ruto accused the government of unfairly targeting Aydin, suggesting that the deportation was politically motivated amid his fallout with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi at the Kahawa Law Courts on August 9, 2021 where announced that his client Harun Aydin was deported to Turkey.
Fred Matiang’i, then Interior Cabinet Secretary, stated that Aydin was deported over money laundering links and illegal movement into and out of Kenya. Matiang’i added that the businessman was not charged in court due to Kenya’s cordial relations with Turkey. Aydin’s lawyer at the time, Ahmednasir Abdullahi, vowed to work towards his return to the country.
Terrorism Allegations
Aydin seen here under Anti-Terror police custody.
Aydin’s past is further clouded by allegations of terrorism. According to reports, he was arrested in Frankfurt, Germany, in October 2001 on charges of “having planned serious acts of violence as a member of a terrorist group with an Islamic fundamentalist background.” At the time of his arrest, Aydin, then 29, was a student living in Germany.
A Frankfurt court described Aydin as a leading member of a militant group based in Cologne, led by Muhammed Metin Kaplan. The group, known as the Federation of Islamic Associations and Communities, reportedly had 1,300 members, most of whom were Turkish. Aydin was found in possession of luggage containing camouflage clothing, a chemical-weapons protection suit, a ski mask, and materials to produce an explosive detonator.
Investigators also discovered a CD-ROM with a training video for Islamic holy warriors, a suicide note to his wife, and a last testament. Aydin was accused of giving instructions for serious crimes, including murder and manslaughter, in several instances. His lawyer, however, claimed that Aydin was traveling to Tehran for a book fair and had agreed to carry a suitcase for another Turkish passenger with excess luggage.
Before his arrest in Germany, Aydin had been sentenced to four years in jail for advocating the murder of a rival, Halil Ibrahim Sofu, but was later acquitted.
Turn of Fortune
Fast forward to 2025, and Aydin’s fortunes have taken a dramatic turn. His company, MHOA Africa, was registered in March 2023, just six months after Ruto assumed the presidency. The firm, co-owned by Aydin and his Turkish partner Hamit Demir, was among 199 companies pre-qualified for the affordable housing program. It was subsequently selected under Category A, reserved for developers tasked with constructing over 100,000 units.
The joint venture between MHOA Africa and Demir Group is expected to design, finance, and build the homes on public land, benefiting from incentives such as fast-tracked approvals and tax exemptions. The government will also facilitate the sale of the houses, ensuring a steady revenue stream for the developers.
Criticism and Controversy
With over 200 companies bidding for the affordable housing contracts, critics have questioned the transparency of the tender process and the apparent favoritism shown to Aydin’s firm. The project’s funding through the controversial housing levy, which compels Kenyan workers to contribute 1.5% of their salaries (matched by their employers), has further fueled public discontent.
“This deal reeks of crony capitalism,” commented one critic on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s baffling how a man once accused of terrorism financing is now a key player in a multi-billion government project.”
“Forged an Investor work permit (Class T) that states the Investor should operate within KE. Flagged by Interpol for money laundering & Terror financing, ATPU intercepted his private plane en route to UG. Equity bank denied he had a loan to finance his dummy contract in the energy,” another user noted.
The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development has remained tight-lipped about the deal, adding to the growing skepticism.
Aydin’s involvement in the affordable housing program has reignited debates about the Ruto administration’s commitment to accountability and good governance. The housing levy, introduced alongside other contentious taxes, has been criticized for burdening ordinary Kenyans while benefiting well-connected individuals and corporations.
Despite the controversy, Aydin appears to have solidified his position within Ruto’s inner circle. He was among the guests at a State House luncheon hosted by the president shortly after his inauguration, signaling a close relationship between the two.
Aydin (circled) seen in State House during President Ruto’s inauguration.
As Kenya forges ahead with its affordable housing agenda, the Harun Aydin saga serves as a stark reminder of the blurred lines between politics, business, and accountability. For many Kenyans, the deal is a bitter pill to swallow, raising concerns about who truly benefits from the government’s flagship projects.
The Ruto administration has set a goal of building 250,000 houses every year on public land using funds from the levy.
24/06/2021 Turkish national Harun Aydin checked into Nairobi’s Radisson Blu Hotel room 047, for face value he was just any other guest and maintained that low profile for weeks until Monday 2nd when he’ll broke lose and his cover blown. He was a terror suspect and has been on intelligence radar.
Hell broke lose when it became apparent that he was on the deputy president’s entourage that was destined for Uganda on a private trip that was supposedly on intelligence focus and blocked by the President. On briefing, the Deputy President was blocked from flying out of the country to Uganda where he was supposed to meet a warlord and seasoned dictator Yoweri Museveni, the country’s president.
Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi confirmed that indeed Turkish national Harun Aydin was part of Deputy President William Ruto’s entourage to Uganda on Monday.
According to local daily, Harun is wanted terrorist who has faced terror charges before.
However, Sudi said Harun is Turkish investor interested in modern fruit farming and not a terrorist as alleged.
“To the doubting Thomases, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is not a kid to deal with someone of questionable repute, you can use your diplomatic connection and inquire from Ssebo himself the kind of interest that the Businessman has in Uganda,” Sudi said.
DP Ruto was barred from travelling to Uganda in a dramatic scene at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport after he allegedly failed to seek clearance from the Immigration department.
On Monday, it emerged that the DP was to travel to Uganda with Turkish businessman Harun Aydin.
It was later reported that Aydin had been arrested in Frankfurt, Germany, in October 2001 on charges of “having planned serious acts of violence as a member of a terrorist group with an Islamic fundamentalist background”.
Now more mystery has been thrown to the debacle.
The whereabouts of Turkish businessman Harun Aydin, who was part of Deputy William Ruto’s delegation to Uganda remained a mystery yesterday after it emerged that he was not part of the returning team.
Last evening, it also emerged that the businessman had checked out of a Radisson Blu Hotel where he has been staying since June. It was not immediately clear who checked him out.
It emerged that Immigration officials had stormed the hotel seeking to question the man who has been linked to terrorism.
Entourage of DP to Uganda.
While MPs Oscar Sudi, Ndindi Nyoro, Benjamin Tayari, businessman David Langat and Dr David Kipkoech jetted back to the country yesterday, Aydin did not fly with them from Entebbe. Others who did not take the flight to Nairobi via Eldoret were Dr Eric Rutto and Elijah Rono.
The plane flew to Eldoret from Entebbe where Sudi, Langat, Kipkoech disembarked before it proceeded to Nairobi with Tayari and Nyoro. It remained unclear under what circumstances the Turkish businessman, who has a tourist visa was swiftly checked out of the hotel.
And yesterday, the Kenya government is said to have written to the Turkish Embassy in Nairobi seeking clarification on the identity of Aydin and reasons for his frequent missions to Nairobi.
Private trips
Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intimated that the government was concerned with Aydin’s alleged dark past and has asked the embassy to provide it with more details. “The government has decided to wait for a clarification from the Turkish Embassy in Nairobi before it can decide what necessary step to take,”a source at the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
Concerns have also been raised on the DP’s private trips most of which are not known by the authorities. Ruto was in Uganda last month where he was hosted by President Yoweri Museveni.
“He went to Uganda and later Zanzibar for a private meeting with local businessmen, which are not known to authorities. Protocol is clear that you get you clearance from your boss. There’s only one boss for the DP,” said a senior official at the Office of the President.
Aydin, who first arrived in the country in May 2018, has allegedly made several trips outside the country together with Ruto. He has also been a frequent visitor to Kenya through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). That year, he is alleged to have made at least six return trips between Instanbul and Nairobi.
The Turkish Embassy in Nairobi officials, however, declined to comment on the matter, saying the person concerned was out of office. “The only person authorised to comment on the matter is out of the office,” an official said on phone. The following year 2019, Aydin made four more trips to Kenya while last year he made two trips. This year, he has made six trips to Kenya originating from Instanbul, Cairo and Addis Ababa.
According to reports, Aydin who holds passport number U20470175, had previously been arrested in Frankfurt, Germany, in October 2001 on charges of “having planned serious acts of violence as a member of a terrorist group with an Islamic fundamentalist background”.
During the arrest, Aydin then aged 29, was a student who had been living in Germany.
According to The New York Times and other media houses, a Frankfurt court described Aydin as a leading member of a militant group based in Cologne and led by Muhammed Metin Kaplan. Kaplan’s group of 1,300 people, most of them Turkish, is known as the Federation of Islamic Associations and Communities.
Terror suspect, Harun Aydin.
Aydin was charged with having planned serious acts of violence as a member of a terrorist group with an Islamic fundamentalist background. He was found with luggage containing camouflage clothing, a chemical-weapons protection suit, a ski mask and materials to produce an explosive detonator.
Holy warriors
Investigators also found in his luggage were CD-ROM with a training video for Islamic holy warriors, a suicide note to his wife and a last testament, according to a local newspaper based in Cologne, Germany.
He was also accused of giving instructions for serious crimes such as murder and manslaughter in several incidences.
His lawyer, however, said he was flying to Tehran (Iran) for a book fair and had agreed to take a suitcase for another Turkish passenger with excess luggage.
It is one of the religious-based organisations that is likely to be banned as soon as a new German law goes into effect that will remove the constitutional protection for hate speech provided to faith-based organisations.
Before the arrest, Aydin had been sentenced to four years in jail after he was found guilty of advocating the murder of a rival, Halil Ibrahim Sofu, but was later acquitted.
Yesterday, Kapsaret MP Sudi, who was among the MPs briefly detained at the Wilson airport before being allowed to travel to Kampala, described Aydin as a Turkish investor interested in modern fruit farming and not a terrorist as alleged in media reports.
“If anyone is in doubt about the details of Harun then they can visit the Turkish Embassy for more information,” Sudi wrote on Facebook. He added: “Museveni is not a kid to deal with someone of questionable repute, you can use your diplomatic connection and inquire from Ssebo (Museveni) himself the kind of interest the businessman has in Uganda.”
Politicians allied to DP Ruto yesterday reacted angrily to the move to block Ruto from flying to Uganda. Nominated Senator Milicent Omanga accused the media of being used by the government to spread propaganda instead of providing a conducive environment for investors to operate in the country. “Instead of attracting more investors to our country, we are calling them terrorists,” she claimed. Aydin is said to be widely travelled to many cities including Cairo and Khartoum.
Immigration officials told the DP they had not been authorised to clear him and that it was only the President who could grant him permission to travel.
After making a number of calls, the DP was heard saying he would not reach the President nor his people. The Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua also said he was not aware of the trip and the alleged clearance. “When he got to the airport, he was asked to seek clearance from the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet. We are surprised. This has never happened in the last nine years,” David Mugonyi, the DP’s spokesperson, said.
Leaked guest list from Radisson Blu revealing details of Aydin and exposing other guests. Leakage criticized for evading privacy and exposing guests. Came from hotel’s insiders.
2018 The year when Turkish businessman Harun Aydin first arrived in Kenya. Sources say he has made several trips outside the country together with DP Ruto.
Aydin’s stay at Radisson Blu brings to focus how hotels could easily harbor terror suspects and lack of proper mechanisms to vet visitors to prevent possible attacks.
Kenya has been a frequent target of terrorist attacks. The largest, most high-profile attack occurred in 1998 when al-Qaeda operatives bombed the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, killing more than 220 people. In recent years, the Somali-based al-Shabaab has perpetrated two largescale attacks in Kenya: the September 2013 siege of Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall that left 67 people dead, and the April 2015 attack on Garissa University in northeastern Kenya in which militants killed 148 people. The Somali terror group has increased attacks in Kenya in order to dissuade the country from sending its military to help stabilize neighboring Somalia. (Sources: CNN, Reuters, Reuters, Reuters)
Al-Shabaab is the most active extremist group in Kenya, but is not solely responsible for the country’s extremist violence. The separatist organization Mombasa Republican Council, for example, has used violence in its quest for the city of Mombasa’s secession from Kenya. Police have accused the group of planning attacks including an attack on a casino in March 2013. Separately, ISIS is not believed to have a foothold in Kenya, though Kenyan citizens have traveled abroad to join the international terror group. (Sources: Reuters, Reuters, Reuters, Reuters)
The Kenyan government has taken an aggressive approach to countering extremism at home and abroad. As terrorist forces have grown in strength, the central government in Nairobi has invested more resources to disrupt terrorist financing and thwart their operations. In April 2015, the Kenyan government began construction of a wall along Kenya’s Somali border to keep out al-Shabaab militants and illegal immigrants. Northeastern Regional Commissioner Mohamud Saleh said in January 2018 that the construction of the wall had helped lower border attacks to “almost zero.” However, lack of payment for construction workers and political quarrels between the Kenyan and Somali governments have slowed development of the wall. The counter-extremism agenda has also suffered from government corruption.
According to Oscar Sudi, an MP allied to the DP, Aydin has been in the country as an ‘investor’ in ‘modern fruits’ but the relationship with the DP has been given a different view by the intelligence.
Kenya and Turkey enjoy a cordial relationship and did not only seal one of the biggest military deals by importing armored vehicles, but extradited nephew of Erdagon foe in Kenya.
Selahattin Gulen, a nephew of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, stands between Turkish flags in this photo provided by Turkish intelligence service, on Monday, May 31, 2021, in Ankara, Turkey. Turkish agents have captured Selahattin Gulen in an overseas operation and have brought him to Turkey where he faces prosecution, Turkey’s state-run news agency said Monday. Gulen, who was wanted in Turkey on charges of membership in a terror organization, was seized in an operation by Turkey’s national spy agency, MIT, Anadolu Agency reported. (Turkish Intelligence Service via AP)
