Adani and his Kenyan deals uncovered

Some of the stranded passengers at JKIA take a nap as aviation workers staged a strike over contraversial take over by a foreign investor on September 11, 2024. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

As the country grapples with the effects of the controversial takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Adani Holdings that has sparked national outrage, it is emerging that the Indian firm has spread its tentacles to the energy sector as well.

On Thursday, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, who has been pursuing Adani deals in the country, told the Senate that besides the JKIA deal, the company was on the verge of entering into an agreement with Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) for electricity transmission lines.

 “It should be brought to the attention of the nation that besides the JKIA deal, Adani Limited is on the verge of entering another contractual agreement for a transmission lines project by Ketraco without public participation,” Onyonka said.

He, at the same time, sought a statement about the activities of the Indian company in the country.

The Kisii senator dropped the bombshell moments after Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davies Chirchir came under fire after he appeared before the Senate Roads and Transport Committee over the controversial JKIA– Adani deal without the necessary documentation.

Last week, when the country was experiencing inexplicable nationwide blackouts, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi justified Kenya’s need of a new power transmission line.

Wandayi claimed the government had recently approved a Sh117 billion power transmission infrastructure proposal from power distribution company Adani Energy Solutions Limited that is aimed to turn around the sector.

The project aims to construct 371 Kilometres of transmission lines and five substations in Eastern and Western Kenya as part of a public-private partnership with Adani Energy to ensure stability in supply.

The move, according to Wandayi, was part of the country’s broader plan to upgrade the ageing infrastructure while reducing leakages and frequent outages which has led to Kenyans incurring losses every time there is a major blackout across the country. 

 The National Treasury approved the project’s feasibility study report in March 2024 with the initiative also serving as part of the country’s strategy to turn to private-sector investment to cut government spending on infrastructure. 

Adani Energy is planning to do 197KM – 400KV along Gilgil – Thika – Mala – Konza, 101KM-220KV along Rongai – Keringut- Chemosit, 90KM – 132KV along Menengai – Olkalau – Rumuruti, 400/220KV sub stations at Lessos and Rongai, and 132/33KV thur –dibuoro substation estimated to cost Sh 127 billion.

Yesterday, Onyonka said it was disappointing that Chirchir had not made available the necessary documentation to the Senate since the matter needed to be given the attention it deserves for senators to have full information so that they can be able to explain to Kenyans what was happening as far as the Adani company deals in the country are concerned.

Chirchir was ordered to appear before the committee chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa this morning with all the relevant documents relating to the controversial deal that has attracted the attention of Kenyans with more details emerging over the Adani Limited deals.

Onyonka said the matter is weighty and very complex and does not deserve to be trivialised and that nothing stops the committee from demanding for documents and that there is no contradiction at all since these are the same documents to be presented in court if needed.

“Unless the CS presents documents that can be adopted as evidence even in a court of law, there is no reason for the committee meeting to proceed since, at the moment, I do not have any questions to ask Chirchir since he has not presented documents answering the questions I asked over the Adani Limited deal,” said Onyonka.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said the Senate had dispatched a letter to the Ministry of Roads and Transport on August 6 asking for the details of the Public Private Partnership between Adani Limited and the government since Kenyans wanted to know what is in the deal.

Sifuna said he was disappointed with Chirchir for failing to bring the documents, observing that the senators were being accused by citizens for not speaking about the Adani issue yet they have nothing to say about it with the matter being discussed in entertainment and even places of worship across the country.

“I have heard my colleagues congratulating Davies Chirchir for being appointed Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary. I am withholding my congratulations until he proves to me that he is up to the task. Personally, I know nothing about the Adani deal despite being the senator of Nairobi,” said Sifuna.

Chirchir said there were two court cases over the matter, one coming up on September 24 for directions while another one will be mentioned on October 8 and that there is a privately initiated investment proposal by Adani Limited to develop JKIA under the public-private partnership arrangement.

The CS said he was ready to proceed with the matter before the Senate that he was only notifying senators of the court cases against the government about the Adani Limited deal and that it was in the interest of the government to have full disclosure on the matter.

Chirchir said they were ready to provide the documents requested but sought time to appear before the committee on Monday or Tuesday next week when they will have given senators time to go through the documents and interrogate the matter. Thangwa overruled him.