Indian Billionaire Gautam Adani’s Indictment in the U.S. Sparks Uproar in Kenya Over JKIA Deal
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, had dismissed any corruption and tax evasion allegations against Adani Limited, citing a government investigation that found no supporting evidence.
New York, U.S. Nov 21 – Kenyans woke up to the explosive news that Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and 7 other officials had been charged in the United States over a $250 million (roughly Ksh. 32 billion) bribery scandal. The charges, filed by U.S. federal prosecutors, allege that Adani orchestrated a years-long scheme to bribe Indian officials for lucrative solar power contracts, potentially earning his conglomerate over $2 billion (Ksh. 256 billion) in profits. The indictment comes as Kenya grapples with its own controversy surrounding Adani Group’s bid to manage Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), sparking widespread debate and anger across Kenyan social media.
Kenyan social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), erupted with outrage, with many questioning the government’s due diligence in dealing with Adani Group and its defenders both in government and in Parliament. As calls for transparency, accountability, and a reassessment of Adani-related contracts intensified in the better part of the day following the news of Adani’s prosecution.
U.S. prosecutors allege that Gautam Adani and several associates, including his nephew Sagar Adani, paid $250 million in bribes to Indian officials between 2020 and 2024. These bribes were allegedly aimed at securing favorable contracts for Adani Green Energy and Azure Power, allowing the companies to sell energy at inflated prices. The allegations also implicate Adani in duping U.S. investors into purchasing $750 million worth of bonds for Adani Green Energy, under false claims of robust anti-corruption practices. The charges also implicate former employees of Canada’s CDPQ pension fund, who are accused of tampering with evidence and misleading U.S. authorities.
Prosecutors say the bribery scheme was meticulously documented through emails, mobile phones, and presentations, which were later used to conceal the payments from U.S. investors. Following the announcement, Adani Group shares plunged by 10% on the Indian stock exchange, reigniting concerns over the conglomerate’s integrity, which had already been questioned in a 2022 Hindenburg Research report accusing Adani of stock manipulation.
The indictment has added fuel to the controversy surrounding Adani Group’s bid to manage JKIA for a 30 years. Despite public outcry, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir recently assured Parliament that the Adani Group had been thoroughly vetted and cleared of any wrongdoing. Chirchir claimed that multiple government agencies had evaluated the company’s proposal and found no evidence of corruption or tax evasion.
However, critics argue that the U.S. charges undermine Chirchir’s defense. “From day one, we all warned our Government that Gautam Adani is a crook!” said City lawyer Donold Kipkorir on X. “The U.S. trial will reveal who was given bribes in Kenya. What will all those who were defending Adani say now?”
Read more: India’s Controversial Adani Group Secures Multibillion Power Project Amid Global Integrity Concerns
The Adani Group has already secured a 30-year, $737 million contract with the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco). Under this agreement, the Indian conglomerate will finance, construct, and operate several transmission lines and substations, further expanding its footprint in Kenya’s critical infrastructure sector. Social media users expressed concern over Kenya’s reliance on a company now mired in global scandals.
The news triggered a wave of reactions on Kenyan social media, ranging from sharp criticism of the government to reflections on the need for institutional reform.
@CPA Ng’ang’a Mwangi: “The government has not yet accepted that Adani is a FRAUD! According to them, the media is lying. The US is lying. The only truth they know exists in State House Kenya.”
@TheGame: “This is a serious wake-up call for our institutions. If due diligence isn’t prioritized, we’ll keep finding ourselves in such scandals. Let’s hope this pushes for accountability and transparency moving forward.”
@Hesbon KPY: “In the fullness of time, those who aided them will be brought to book as well. Political power is transient, but the rule of law is transcendental.”
However, pro-government voices dismissed the outrage as baseless. State House blogger Denis Itumbi downplayed the news, stating, “Why are people storming me with Gautam Adani’s news? These are the news we already know. The Kenya Kwanza administration is very vigilant, and everything is done systematically and wisely.”
President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga have also supported the Adani Group claiming that the group has no corruption history
The Adani saga echoes Kenya’s problematic history with public-private partnerships (PPPs). From the controversial Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) contract with Chinese firms to unfulfilled energy promises like the Lake Turkana Wind Power project, Kenyan taxpayers have frequently paid the price for opaque deals.
Activist groups warn that Adani Group’s legal troubles should prompt Kenya to reassess its vetting processes for foreign investors. “The US indictment shows what happens when political whims override proper due diligence,” said one civil society leader. “Kenya must prioritize public interest in its infrastructure partnerships.”
Defenders of Adani Group in Parliament have faced mounting pressure to explain their continued support for the conglomerate. Gatanga MP Edward Muriu recently presented documents alleging Adani’s debarment in Australia and India. However, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula rejected the documents, citing a lack of proper authentication. Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei criticized Muriu’s claims, stating, “Rumors and half-truths won’t help us. We need verified evidence before making accusations.”
Amid this growing scrutiny, just hours after U.S. prosecutors announced the indictment of Adani Group directors, Kenya’s Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi before the cancelation of the deal, came to the defense of the government’s ongoing contractual agreements with Adani and KETRACO. Wandayi insisted that the bribery charges against Adani in the U.S. had no legal implications for the ongoing project in Kenya. Appearing before the Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday, November 21, he explained that comprehensive due diligence had been conducted before engaging the Adani Group. He emphasized that the National Treasury and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company had carried out a two-phase assessment to evaluate the conglomerate’s legal and operational suitability.
“On the matter of Adani’s indictment, under Section 41 of the Private Public Partnership (PPP) Act, we have an elaborate mechanism for undertaking due diligence. The PPP Directorate, domiciled under the Treasury, in coordination with KETRACO, conducted a due diligence exercise on Adani Energy Solutions in two phases,” Wandayi stated. He further clarified that, after reviewing all the relevant documents, the government was satisfied that the Adani Group had met all its tax obligations in its home country, India.
Meanwhile, the Adani Group issued a strongly worded statement rejecting the allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) regarding corruption within its ranks. “The allegations made by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green are baseless and denied,” the conglomerate said. Adani Group also reassured its stakeholders, asserting, “We have always upheld and are steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, transparency, and regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions of its operations.”
“We assure our stakeholders, partners, and employees that we are a law-abiding organization, fully compliant with all laws,” the statement continued.
Despite the Adani Group’s reassurances, opposition MPs and civil society activists argue that Kenya’s regulatory bodies have failed to adequately safeguard national interests. Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa warned, “The precedent we are setting could chase away legitimate investors. But we must ensure accountability is at the core of these agreements.”
The unfolding saga raises important questions about the transparency and accountability of public-private partnerships in Kenya, as the government continues to defend its relationship with Adani Group despite global corruption allegations. The U.S. indictment against Gautam Adani could potentially expose glaring weaknesses in Kenya’s regulatory systems as well as highlight the risks of prioritizing political expediency over due diligence.
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), have sought a court order prohibiting the implementation of the Adani proposal for the management of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) until the matter is resolved. Critics argue that Kenya must learn from this scandal and strengthen its PPP framework to ensure transparency, accountability, and public trust
