File image of Nelson Amenya
Adani Deal whistle-blower Nelson Amenya has opened up on his experience since he uncovered the controversial plan by the government to lease out the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Adani Holdings Limited.
In a statement sent to the newsrooms, Amenya said the exposé was one of his life’s most impactful and defining moments.
According to the whistleblower, the negotiations between the government and Adani lacked transparency as they were conducted behind closed doors with no oversight from the public and parliament.
“I uncovered a secretive agreement between the Kenyan government and the Adani Group, an Indian conglomerate, for the leasing and management of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). What troubled me most about the deal was its lack of transparency. Negotiations were conducted behind closed doors, with no public or parliamentary oversight, leaving Kenyans in the dark about a critical
national and strategic asset,” read the statement in part.
Amenya pointed out that as he dug deeper into the deal, he noted that it posed a risk of Kenya losing billions of shillings in revenue.
The terms of the deal heavily favored the Adani Group, and there were serious concerns that jobs would be lost for local workers, as mentioned in the proposals, who would be replaced by foreign staff.
According to Amenya, he exposed the deal to protect Kenya’s sovereignty over JKIA which is vital to the country’s economy and heavily related to National security as it is a major gateway not only to Kenya but to a region with over 500 million people in 9 countries.
“Following my exposé, the situation escalated into a national civil unrest. Protests erupted under the banner of the “Occupy JKIA” movement, with airport workers going on strike, effectively shutting down operations at the country’s largest airport. This disruption underscored how important it was for the public to have a voice in deals affecting national assets,” said Amenya.
He added, “The protest ultimately forced the government to halt the deal and conduct an audit, a move that also spurred broader discussions on the privatization of public resources and foreign investment in key sectors such as the energy sector where Adani also signed a PPP deal to build own operate and transfer over 500km power grid also shredded in secrecy and details of the agreement have not been made public to date.”
The whistle-blower went on to say he didn’t expect the international ripple effect of his revelations on the Adani deal.
nelson amenya
Amenya mentioned that the Indian Congress Party raised concerns in Parliament, questioning whether Adani’s global dealings, like the one with Kenya, might jeopardize India’s foreign policy and expose Indian businesses to negative perceptions abroad.
However, he said he has received threats to his life after he uncovered the controversial Adani Deal that could see JKIA leased out for 30 years.
“I received direct threats and my safety has been compromised. These threats escalated to the point where I had to report to French authorities. Even in France, where I am currently living and studying, I continue to face intimidation,” he stated.
He also noted that there have been attempts to gag him through the courts both in Kenya and in France.
Amenya said his company has been falsely accused of fraud, in a move by the state to intimidate his efforts in Kenya.
“Despite these challenges, I have received overwhelming support from civil society organizations and positive media coverage. My work has resonated with many, and the public outcry has gained widespread traction. The #StopAdani movement is a direct result of this support, pressuring the government to halt the deal and reassess its policies. All legal representation in Kenya has been offered to me free of charge as a way for the legal fraternity to show solidarity with the fight against corruption and bad governance,” Amenya stated.
To support Amenya’s legal fund in cases filed against him, contribute through this link.
Also Read: Senator Onyonka Goes After DCI After They Wrote To Whistleblower Behind Adani-JKIA Deal.
