Raila Odinga has weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding India's Adani Group's involvement in significant infrastructure projects in Kenya.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Odinga addressed concerns about transparency and investor integrity, defending the company’s credibility based on his own experiences with its projects in India.
Odinga recalled being introduced to Adani by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then Gujarat’s Chief Minister. During his visit to India, he witnessed Adani’s successful transformation of a swamp in Gujarat into a thriving port, power plant, and industrial hub.
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He also praised Adani’s work revamping Mumbai's airport into a world-class facility.
The controversy in Kenya centers on proposed Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for modernizing Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and upgrading the country’s power transmission sector. Many Kenyans have expressed concerns over the transparency of these deals, particularly regarding job security, value for money, and the privatization of national assets.
Odinga, however, emphasized that Adani had proposed investing in Kenya over a decade ago, but legal frameworks for PPPs were not in place then. He pointed out that Kenya’s PPP laws are modeled after those of Gujarat, highlighting Adani’s extensive experience in this area.
While defending Adani as a credible partner, Odinga acknowledged that the current PPP framework must be refined to attract investor confidence while safeguarding national interests.
He urged the government to ensure transparent, competitive, and fair PPP processes to maintain Kenya’s attractiveness to foreign investors. Additionally, he called for the protection of labor laws, environmental standards, and Kenyan jurisdiction over disputes.
Odinga warned that politicizing this issue could harm Kenya’s infrastructure development as neighboring countries advance.
