The student who blew whistle on Kenya airport controversy

Nelson Amenya, a 30-year-old business student from Kenya, has emerged as a significant figure in the fight against corruption in his country. Currently studying for his MBA in France, Amenya has been recognized as a hero by those advocating for transparency in government dealings with private companies. Kenya has a troubled history with corruption, particularly concerning large contracts that have often been marred by unethical practices. Despite existing laws designed to prevent such occurrences, suspicions remain that corruption continues to thrive. In July, Amenya took a bold step by leaking information on social media regarding a proposed agreement between the Kenyan government and the Adani Group, a major Indian multinational corporation. This deal involved the management of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which is not only the largest airport in Kenya but also a crucial hub for the region. Amenya recalls his initial reaction upon receiving the documents, stating, 'The first feeling I had was that it was just another government deal. I did not understand the magnitude or the seriousness of it. ' The leaked documents revealed a staggering $2 billion proposal from the Adani Group to lease JKIA for 30 years, with the intention of modernizing and operating the airport. As he delved deeper into the details, Amenya became increasingly concerned that the deal would be detrimental to the Kenyan economy, with the majority of the benefits flowing to the Indian company. He perceived the arrangement as fundamentally unfair, as Kenya would be contributing a significant portion of the funding while reaping minimal rewards. Amenya felt justified in his belief that the documents were authentic, as they originated from reputable government sources. The Adani Group is known for its involvement in various sectors, including infrastructure, mining, and energy, across multiple countries. Its founder, Gautam Adani, is a prominent figure in India's economy and has close ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As Amenya continued to investigate, he uncovered alarming information suggesting that the proposed deal could leave Kenya with a financial obligation to the Adani Group if the company failed to recover its investment. He expressed his outrage, stating, 'This was a great breach of trust of the people by the leadership of the president, the Kenya Airports Authority, the minister - they all betrayed the people. ' Faced with the weight of this information, Amenya grappled with the decision of whether to go public. He was acutely aware of the risks involved, particularly for anti-corruption activists in Kenya, where some have faced violence or even death. 'I was a bit scared. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I’m risking my career, I’m risking my life, why should I take the risk to do this? ' he pondered. Ultimately, he concluded that remaining silent was not an option. 'You know, it’s only cowards who live long,' he asserted. After weeks of careful consideration, Amenya decided to leak the documents on his social media platform in July, igniting a wave of outrage across Kenya. Following his revelations, workers at JKIA staged a strike, demanding the cancellation of the controversial deal. Amenya felt a strong sense of duty to his country, stating, 'Even if I am far away, I still have a duty for my country. I want to see a better Kenya, my home country becoming developed, industrialized, and an end to corruption. ' He feared that the airport deal was just the beginning of a series of problematic agreements. Amenya noted that the unusual terms of the deal and the lack of transparency raised significant red flags. He alleged that Kenyan laws had been systematically ignored, claiming, 'The authorities never did due diligence for this company. They did not follow the due process of procurement. ' He believed that some government officials were attempting to circumvent legal requirements, including public consultations, which are designed to protect taxpayer interests. A report from the Kenya Airports Authority regarding the proposed deal indicated that there was no plan to engage stakeholders in discussions. 'This was in April, and by July when I was exposing this, they had not done any public participation. It was quite secret this deal, and by that time they were just a month away from signing the deal,' Amenya alleged. 'After I exposed this deal is when they hurriedly tried to come and do like a sham public participation - they called the Kenya Airports Authority staff and started to have stakeholder meetings. ' Various government officials denied any allegations of corruption, and the authorities proceeded to sign another multimillion-dollar deal with the Adani Group for a power line project. The Adani Group dismissed Amenya's claims as unfounded and malicious, asserting that their proposal adhered to Kenyan Public Private Partnership regulations and aimed to create a world-class airport while significantly boosting the Kenyan economy by generating numerous jobs. They further stated that no contract was signed as discussions did not progress to a binding agreement. The Adani Group also emphasized their commitment to compliance and transparency in all their operations. However, it was not Amenya's leak that ultimately prompted the government to reconsider the deal. Instead, it was the indictment of Gautam Adani by US authorities for alleged involvement in a bribery scheme that led to Kenya's decision to act. Representatives from the Adani Group denied these allegations, labeling them as baseless. During a recent state-of-the-nation address, President William Ruto announced the cancellation of both Adani deals, stating, 'In the face of undisputed evidence or credible information on corruption, I will not hesitate to take decisive action. ' This announcement was met with enthusiastic applause in parliament, and many Kenyans celebrated the decision, which Ruto attributed to new information from investigative agencies and partner nations. Amenya was in class when he heard the news and was overwhelmed with emotion. 'I couldn’t believe it. I had tears in my eyes. I was so happy. ' Although he does not consider himself a hero, he received an outpouring of support from people around the world, including India. Shortly after the announcement, he tweeted, 'Adios Adani! ' - a phrase that captured the momentous occasion. However, the journey was not without its challenges. Following his revelations, Amenya faced a defamation lawsuit from an Adani Group representative and a Kenyan politician, leading him to question whether he should continue his fight. 'Some people were coming to me from the government, they were even ready to pay me, they were telling me: 'You need to cash out and just stop this fight with the government,'' he recalled. 'It would have been the biggest mistake of my life to give up, a betrayal to the Kenyan people. ' Even after the cancellation of the deals, President Ruto expressed confusion over the public's opposition to such projects. He stated, 'I saw them saying that those who stopped the upgrading of our airport are heroes. Heroes? What do you gain when you stop the building of an airport in your country? ' Amenya, still facing legal challenges, is now seeking funds to cover his legal expenses and is uncertain about his future in Kenya. 'I have received threats from credible intelligence agencies and people in Kenya that have warned me not to go back because obviously there are some people who are very angry with what I did,' he said. Despite the risks, Amenya remains resolute, stating, 'We don’t really need to wait for someone to save us.