Nick Ruto has faced controversy for his association with the law firm Dentons, Hamilton Harrison & Mathews (HHM). This firm represents Adani Airports Holdings in a case regarding its proposed takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
This relationship has sparked online speculation, with critics alleging that the firm's government contracts are influenced by its ties to high-ranking officials.
Adil Arshed Khawaja, the Managing Partner of Dentons HHM and chairperson of Safaricom’s board, has refuted these claims, asserting that Nick Ruto was hired based purely on merit.
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Khawaja explained that the firm receives thousands of applications each year, and Nick’s selection was part of their standard process, without any prior knowledge of his application.
Khawaja, who has a 30-year friendship with President Ruto, emphasized that their professional relationship had no bearing on the hiring process.
He also defended the firm’s involvement with Adani, citing its extensive experience in handling Public-Private Partnership (PPP) cases.
Adani Airports Holdings aims to revamp JKIA under a Ksh 258 billion PPP agreement, seeking to expand its influence in East Africa after already managing a significant port in Tanzania.
However, the project has encountered resistance from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), which argues that the deal lacks transparency and violates principles of good governance.
Additionally, a parliamentary committee has called for a special audit of the Adani proposal, halting the process until the review is presented in Parliament by October.
Concerns about transparency and the legality of leasing a critical national asset have scrutinized the deal, and the project's future hangs in the balance.
