Kenyan President William Ruto announced Thursday the cancellation of major infrastructure deals with Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s business empire, citing intelligence from “investigative agencies and partner nations” following the tycoon’s indictment in the United States on fraud charges.
The terminated agreements included a controversial plan for the Adani Group to modernize and operate Nairobi’s main airport for 30 years in exchange for constructing an additional runway and terminal. The project had faced significant domestic opposition, triggering protests and airport worker strikes over concerns about potential job losses and deteriorating working conditions.
A separate agreement for the construction of power transmission lines in East Africa’s largest economy was also scrapped. Energy Minister Opiyo Wandayi, appearing before a parliamentary committee Thursday, emphasized that no corruption had tainted Kenya’s side of the energy sector negotiations.
The cancellations follow U.S. prosecutors’ indictment of Adani on charges of securities fraud and conspiracy, alleging he misled investors about a major solar energy project in India through an alleged bribery scheme. The charges represent a significant blow to one of Asia’s wealthiest individuals and his global business operations.
Ruto’s decision, revealed during his state of the nation address, marks a dramatic reversal in Kenya’s infrastructure development plans and highlights growing international scrutiny of the Adani Group’s operations following the U.S. charges.
