Adani Group's Ksh116 Billion Electricity Deal Faces Scrutiny

Indian conglomerate Adani Group is facing more trouble after Nairobi-based lawyer, Francis Njoroge Wanjiku wrote to the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) demanding access to particulars of any Private-Public Partnership (PPP) deal with the group.

In the letter obtained by Money254, Njoroge wants KETRACO to make public seven details of agreements with Adani, which is currently embroiled in protests across major airports in Kenya.

“We refer to the above subject matter. Our firm has become aware that your organization is planning to execute various agreements with Adani Energy Solutions (formerly Adani Transmission Limited) to implement various Public Private Partnerships in Kenya,” the letter reads in part.

Wanjiku, in exercise of the right to access to information, wants KETRACO to make public the project agreements with Adani as well as the financial capacity of the tendering company.

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Further, he is seeking the publicization of the details of the tendering process undertaken as well as legal, regulatory, social, economic and commercial viability appraisal.

Also being sought after are details of any public participation undertaken regarding the deal with Adani as well as approval from the Attorney General and any undertaking, letter of support, credit or risk guarantee or instrument issued by the Ministry within KETRACO’s knowledge.

“We require this information within fourteen (14) days of receipt of this letter. Failure to which we shall exercise our rights in accordance with the law,” the letter added.

The letter is in response to the Kenyan government reportedly approving a Ksh116.1 billion power transmission infrastructure proposal from Adani Energy Solutions in a project aimed at constructing 371km of transmission lines and five substations in the Eastern and Western parts of the East African country as part of the PPP deal between the Kenyan government and Adani.

The move is part of the country’s broader plan to upgrade its power infrastructure which has aged in recent years, contributing to an increase in leakages and frequent power blackouts that have already plunged the country into darkness twice in September alone. No other power blackout has been witnessed nationwide in 2024 before then.

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The move which began as a PPP deal sparked fears that Adani could be eyeing more than just a deal to have the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi leased to the Indian firm for up to 30 years.

As of last night (September 10), workers from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) staged a go-slow, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and international flights threatened with delays in terms of departures. This matter escalated the following day, with workers from the other major airports in Kenya downing their tools in solidarity with their colleagues over the proposed Adani deal, which has sparked uproar across not just aviation sectors in Kenya but also the entire nation.

The go-slow came a few days after the High Court suspended the planned leasing of JKIA to the Adani Group due to a case filed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) that challenged the decision to lease the airport.

The two organisations argued that JKIA is a profitable national asset and that the deal violates the principles of good governance, accountability, transparency, and the prudent and reasonable use of public money.

Justice John Chigiti ruled that no person or entity can implement the deal until the case filed in court is heard and determined on October 8.

Adani Enterprise Limited submitted a proposal on Friday, March 1, to take over the running and management of JKIA for 30 years. The government secretly accepted the proposal that grants the Indian multinational 100 percent control of Kenya’s largest airport. 

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