Kenya cancels multimillion-dollar worth airport, energy deals with Adani Group after US indictment- The Week

By Sandy Verma On Nov 22, 2024

After the United States’s indictment of billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani, Kenya cancelled multimillion-dollar airport expansion and energy deals with the group.

President William Ruto in a State of the Nation address said the decision was made based on new information provided by our investigative agencies and partner nations.

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Ruto also said he directed the cancellation of a 30-year, $736-million public-private partnership deal the energy ministry had signed with the Adani Group last month to construct power transmission lines.

“I have directed agencies within the Ministry of Transport and within the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum to immediately cancel the ongoing procurement,” Ruto said.

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The Adani Group had been in the process of signing an agreement that would modernise Kenya’s main airport in the capital, Nairobi, with an additional runway and terminal constructed, in exchange for the group running the airport for 30 years.

The project was criticised and sparked anti-Adani protests in Kenya. Airport workers went on a strike saying it would lead to job losses and degraded working conditions.

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The US court on Wednesday charged Adani and others with allegedly tricking investors into securing a significant solar energy project from Adani Green Energy by bribing Indian officials.

The nine members who were charged, including the two Adanis, allegedly agreed to pay about USD 265 million in bribes to government officials in India to bag contracts.

US Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday announced that Adani and two co-defendants violated anti-fraud provisions of US securities laws as well.