Ruto cancels Adani deals, addresses forced disappearances and GBV

President William Ruto. (Courtesy)

President William Ruto has scrapped the planned Adani Group deals for airports and power lines in the country. He disclosed that he had ordered the cancellation of procurement processes surrounding the controversial projects.

During the State of the Nation Address, he announced the termination of agreements involving the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and KETRACO, which his government had signed with the Adani Group.

While outlining his development record to citizens, Ruto also addressed significant national concerns, including the reported disappearances of individuals, public protests, and allegations of gender-based violence (GBV).

"I must now confront an issue of widespread concern regarding the relationship between citizens and the security services in the context of immense threat and intense political dynamism. Numerous allegations have been made concerning the disappearance of people during protests. A number of these cases have been resolved, while others have been uncovered as fake news undermining efforts to find genuine cases of missing persons," President Ruto stated.

"A good number of alleged disappearances have also turned out to be arrests made by police officers. In such cases, suspects have been duly arraigned in court. I must, however, make it very clear that there is no attempt to justify or excuse illegal arrests. Such actions would be a serious threat to the life and liberty of citizens. I condemn any excessive or extrajudicial actions, which put the life and liberty of any person at risk, including disappearances and threats to life," he added, urging citizens with information on such cases to report them to the DCI or IPOA.

The president also condemned femicide and encouraged parents to raise boys into morally upright men. During a meeting with women leaders yesterday, Ruto pledged Sh100 million towards the Safe Home, Safe Space campaign, aimed at ending femicide cases across the country.