President Ruto Cancels Partnerships with Adani Group Amid Corruption Concerns
President William Ruto has ordered the suspension of public-private partnership talks between the Kenyan government and the Adani Group on two major projects.
The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum are to cancel the procurement processes for the JKIA Expansion and the KETRACO transmission line partnership.
In his State of the Nation address on November 21, 2024, Ruto explained that corruption linked to the Adani Group was the reason for the suspension.
“I will take action if there is credible evidence of corruption,” he stated. The decision follows findings from investigative agencies and international partners, which raised concerns about the legitimacy of discussions with the Adani Group.
Ruto emphasized that transparency and accountability will be key as the government moves forward with these projects. He urged agencies to look for alternative partners.
The President also discussed his administration’s wider efforts to fight corruption. He said, “Corruption is a threat to social justice, development, and national security.” Ruto is working with other government branches to encourage the Judiciary and Parliament to improve integrity and efficiency through digitization.
Ruto then called out the Judiciary and Parliament for their handling of corruption cases. “The DPP should not keep dropping cases because of missing witnesses,” he said, also criticizing corruption suspects who use anticipatory bail to avoid investigations.
He pushed Parliament to pass the Conflict of Interest Bill quickly and pointed out delays in the National Treasury’s e-procurement system. “I direct the Treasury to launch this system by the end of Q1 2025. Only procurement through this system should be approved,” he said.
Ruto warned that independent institutions must meet the public’s expectations and “These institutions must up their game,” he said.
The President ended his speech by submitting three key reports to Parliament, covering national values, international obligations, and security.
This move against Adani Group and other anti-corruption actions show Ruto’s commitment to tackling corruption and inefficiency within the government.
