Kisii senator Richard Onyonka has written to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) over a letter that the sleuth body sent to a revealer of the Adani deal– Nelson Amenya to provide details of his company.
Onyonka noted that the DCI was attempting to settle political scores and intimidate Amenya who currently resides in France following his revelation of the deal which had remained confidential.
“I have reliable information that Afrinet Carbon Limited is associated with one Kenyan who is the main revealer of the controversial planned takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, JKIA by the Adani Group,” Onyonka stated.
He added that the DCI should use its mechanisms to obtain business records from government registries instead of writing to Amenya directly.
“The information requested by the DCI are documents that the state can access from the Business Registration Service (BRS) an entity mandated to oversee all the operations of registration of such a business. Therefore, I consider this letter and request from the DCI as a witch-hunt aimed at serving a vindictive, vitriolic and vengeful politically motivated abhorrence,” Onyonka added.
Life in danger
On Sunday, September 8, 2024, Amenya stated that his life was in danger during an X Spaces discussion.
He remarked that following the amount of public outcry that the deal had generated, Indian bloggers had been on his case, discrediting his qualifications as well as his person.
In the deal, the government plans to hand over operations of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Indian conglomerate Adani Group for 30 years.
After reports emerged on controversies involving the conglomerate, the government flew out a team of auditors to cross-check Adani Group’s business records.
This notwithstanding, the group proceeded with the registration of a Kenyan subsidiary- Airports Infrastructure PLC- in readiness for the planned takeover.
Adani deal
In the deal which up to now remains a secret, Adani is set to build a new passenger terminal, refurbish existing terminals, construct a second runway, and enhance cargo-handling facilities.
Adani proposes a Ksh97 billion investment in developing a new terminal building, associated apron, taxiway system and two rapid exit taxiways.
However, the planned developments have been the subject of apprehension from the Kenya Aviation Workers’ Union (KAWU) and a section of politicians who say the process was shrouded in mystery.
Workers at the JKIA are worried the new management could alter their terms of service and also render several of them jobless.
