Nelson Amenya has dismissed claims by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga that his exposé on the JKIA-Adani deal was sponsored to undermine the project. Amenya insisted that his actions were independent and aimed at protecting public interest, not driven by external influence.
Raila had recently argued that critics of the controversial agreement were being used to drive the Indian conglomerate out of Kenya, claiming the 30-year private leasing plan would have transformed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport into a world-class facility.
However, Amenya strongly disagreed, questioning the lack of transparency in the process. “Nobody ever paid me to expose the deal for starters. Every single red flag I pointed out was true. If they really cared for the airport, why didn’t they do a proper tendering process?” he stated.
Amenya emphasized that JKIA remains one of Africa’s most profitable airports and could attract competitive bids if handled transparently. He warned that the deal’s unusual terms would have placed unfair financial burdens on Kenyan taxpayers while exposing the country to further risks if Adani failed to recoup its investments.
The whistle-blower first revealed the secretive agreement in July 2024, noting that Adani was to take control of JKIA for 30 years under a private arrangement. His revelations came shortly after President William Ruto’s administration approved aviation policies paving the way for the company’s proposed Ksh259 billion investment.
While the proposal promised expanded terminals, a second runway, and modernized facilities, aviation workers and the public raised alarm over job security threats, lack of due process, and disregard for procurement laws.
Mounting opposition eventually led to President Ruto cancelling the deal during his State of the Nation address on November 21, 2024.
Amenya maintains that his exposé was about accountability. “It was never about stopping development. It was about protecting Kenyans from being shortchanged,” he said.
