Who is Nelson Amenya, whistleblower who exposed the JKIA-Adani deal in Kenya?

Hours after US prosecutors indicted Gautam Adani, the Chairman of Adani Group, on charges of bribery and fraud and issued an arrest warrant against him, authorities in Kenya scrapped a controversial deal that would have resulted in the Indian tycoon gaining control of one of the most important airports in the African nation.

CREDIT: JKIA

Kenya cancels airport deal with Adani

Kenyan President William Ruto said on Thursday that he had ordered the cancellation of a procurement process that was expected to hand control of the country's main airport to the Adani Group in a deal worth nearly $2 billion.

What was the JKIA-Adani deal

The deal had been under the spotlight for months after a Kenyan whistleblower, Nelson Amenya, alleged irregularities in the agreement that would have resulted in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) being leased to Adani Airport Holdings Limited.

The Adani Group had promised to modernise Kenya¡¯s main airport in the capital, Nairobi, with an additional runway and terminal constructed in exchange for the group running the airport for 30 years.

CREDIT: REUTERS

Allegations against JKIA-Adani deal

The deal was, however, widely criticised in Kenya, and in July, Amenya claimed that there had been secret negotiations between the Kenyan government and the Adani Group, after which the airport deal was awarded to the company without a transparent and competitive bidding process.

The revelations had resulted in massive protests in Kenya and a strike by airport workers, who said it would lead to degraded working conditions and, in some cases, job losses.

CREDIT: X/Nelson Amenya

Who is Nelson Amenya?

According to Kenyan media reports, 30-year-old Nelson Amenya is currently pursuing a Master¡¯s degree in Business Administration at HEC Paris in France. He also holds a Bachelor¡¯s degree in Design and Advertising from Moi University in Kenya.

In September, Amenya alleged that he was receiving threats and intimidation from Kenyan authorities for his expos¨¦s.

How Nelson Amenya reacted to JKIA-Adani deal cancellation

On Thursday, reacting to the Kenyan government cancelling the airport deal, Amenya said, "We did it!!! Adios Adani."

WE DID IT!!! ADIOS ADANI!

¡ª Nelson Amenya (@amenya_nelson) November 21, 2024

He also thanked Kenyans and Indians who reached out to him, expressing support for his work.

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