Adani Whistleblower Exposes More Underhand Dealings as Indian Firm Fights Back
Nelson Amenya, the man who blew the whistle on the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Adani deal on Wednesday confirmed the contract is yet to be signed which he attributed to the public uproar that ensued after he leaked details.
The whistleblower, speaking from France during an interview with KTN News said, “This deal has not been signed yet because of course after I exposed it things slowed down. If I did not expose it, it would have already been signed.”
He went on to add that the deal was shrouded in secrecy and this was the reason why Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir took time to appear before the Senate. According to Amenya, Chirchir did not reveal everything that was included in the initial proposal while making his submissions on the floor of the house.
Amenya even name dropped a senior Kenya Kwanza politician who allegedly received bribes to hasten the deal. The whistleblower went on to dare the government to provide documents to prove what he is saying is not factual.
India’s Adani Group office
Photo
Nikkei Asia
The whistleblower attributed JKIA’s sorry state to mismanagement revealing that a Chinese firm had been contracted in 2020 to repair the leaking roofs at the national airport even though the problem persists to date.
“Do you know that there was a tender of Ksh1 billion that was issued to a Chinese firm for them to repair the roof? The first time they were given this tender was 2020 I believe and then when CS Murkomen was in power they were called again.” Amenya claimed.
He went on to add that the tender was single sourced with government officials allegedly blocking a competitive process.
Despite the shoddy job done by the Chinese firm however, Amenya claimed the Chinese firm was still contracted to finish the project. He stated that even in light of all these facts, work was still not done despite the firm being paid a whopping Ksh1 billion.
Amenya was reacting to a question on whether JKIA needed an upgrade due to its deteriorating nature.
The whistleblower blamed the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) for failing to ensure that funds set aside to revamp JKIA were properly utilised.
“It is mismanagement of funds that has led JKIA to the point where it is today and that’s why we are in dire need for an upgrade, a new terminal.” Amenya said.
He concluded that an upgrade was required at JKIA but then the due process needs to be followed. “If it’s a PPP project then it has to follow the PPP Act of 2021 whether it’s an emergency or not.”
Despite all the controversial claims being made against the Adani Group, they have consistently fought against them denying all claims that there was any form of corruption involved in the initial proposal process and during the continuing conversation.
On Wednesday September 18, Adani released a press statement refuting yet another claim that the KAA approved their proposal in 17 days and confirmed that the contract had not been signed yet.
A collage of President William Ruto, former Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen, Labour CS Alfred Mutua, and COTU Sec Gen Francis Atwoli with Adani Group CEO Gautam Adani.
Photo
Kenyans.co.ke
