JKIA-Adani deal cancellation not enough, scrap SHIF contract too - Kenyans tell Ruto

Kenyans, including political leaders, have expressed strong support for President William Ruto’s decision to cancel the Adani Group’s deals at JKIA and Ketraco, but are now calling for further action, particularly the cancellation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) deal.

Taking to his X account on Thursday, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka applauded Ruto’s move but insisted that it was insufficient.

"It is not enough to cancel the Adani Group deals in JKIA and Ketraco; Adani is also in SHA/SHIF. Ruto should also cancel this deal immediately. On November 27, we will appear in court on behalf of the Kenyan people regarding JKIA, demanding strict accountability and transparency on these Adani deals,” Kalonzo said.

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba echoed similar sentiments, stressing that the cancellation of Adani’s role in energy and transport deals was inadequate.

"The orders to cancel Adani deals in the energy and transport sectors by the President aren’t satisfactory if Adani’s role in SHA/SHIF is not nullified in totality. Applauding the president in doing so is a zero-sum game,” Wamuchomba said.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah also voiced his call for further action, writing simply, “Next cancellation: SHIF/SHA.”

Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot, who rarely praises government decisions, also thanked President Ruto for cancelling the deal, adding, “Let us now talk about SHIF/SHA, etc.”

Dear President @WilliamsRuto, You must also cancel the @SafaricomPLC/Adani deal with SHIF. That's where the mega corruption is. The entire 104 billion was a scam, a theft spread out for 12 years. That's why 2 weeks ago, SHIF CEO Edward Wachira was suspended.
If indeed the… pic.twitter.com/gGILwPwnVp

— Ekuru Aukot (@EAukot) November 21, 2024

Social media also called for the complete nullification of all Adani deals, with one user, Kitheka, suggesting that the president’s decision was driven by international pressure.

"Ruto feared the many sanctions USA would have put on Kenya had we continued dallying with Adani. Let him cancel SHIF/SHA as well to prove the point,” Kitheka said.

Muthoni Njakwe, another social media user, briefly argued, “All Adani deals should be cancelled in their entirety, including the SHA/SHIF. If a fruit is rotten, you throw it all away.”

Dr Branice Munyasa also called for the full withdrawal of the deals, asserting, “He needs to cancel/withdraw all of them including SHIF/Adani which is a punitive tax offering bare minimum.”

The SHIF deal has garnered additional attention due to its ties to Apeiro Limited, the largest shareholder in the Safaricom consortium awarded the contract for the technology-based system for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Apeiro has business connections to the Adani Group through a joint venture with Sirius International Holding, which owns a significant stake in the consortium.

It is not enough to cancel the #AdaniGroup deals in JKIA and Ketraco; Adani is also in SHA/SHIF. Ruto should also cancel this deal immediately! 

On November 27, we will appear in court on behalf of the Kenyan people regarding JKIA, demanding strict accountability and…

— Kalonzo Musyoka (@skmusyoka) November 21, 2024

The government’s Sh104.8 billion deal to provide an Integrated Healthcare Technology System (IHTS) for the UHC involves several companies, with Safaricom holding a 22.56 per cent stake, while Apeiro, through its connection to Adani, controls the largest share.

MPs have raised concerns over the secrecy surrounding the procurement process for the system.

Earlier this year, the National Assembly’s Health Committee began investigating the procurement of the system, citing concerns over its transparency.

Committee members, led by Endebess MP Robert Pukose, demanded more details on the tender process, including information on the companies that applied for the project.

Pukose had previously distanced the Adani Group from the SHIF deal, asserting during an interview in October that there was no connection between Adani and the project.

"There was misinformation that Apiero is linked to Adani, that is not true, Apiero is an Abu Dhabi-based company,” Pukose said.

However, the session became tense when Medical Services PS Harry Kimtai informed the committee that the Authority was progressing well with securing the new technology. “The procurement process of this system is at an advanced stage,” Kimtai told the MPs.

Kimtai appeared before the committee to provide an update on the ICT system upgrade and to discuss measures for protecting both users and service providers during the transition.

The new system is designed to manage claims, offer digital services to members, handle healthcare empanelment (assigning patients to primary care providers), and manage pre-authorisation processes.

But, Kitutu Chache South MP Antoney Kibagendi raised concerns about the system’s transparency and value for money.

“The system you are talking about is shrouded in secrecy. How are you registering members? What is the cost of the system? Where are the adverts for this tender?” Kibagendi posed.

“PS, you are being unclear about this matter. When was the advert issued? Who was awarded the tender?”

The scrutiny surrounding Adani’s involvement in Kenyan projects continues, with many urging the government to sever all ties with the controversial conglomerate.