LSK now wants President Ruto to reveal costs of cancelled Adani Deals
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
In a statement, LSK President Faith Odhiambo welcomed the President's directive but stressed the need for accountability.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has now called on President William Ruto's administration to reveal the full financial implications of the cancelled public-private partnership (PPP) agreements involving subsidiaries of the Adani Group.
These deals, which included projects with the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), were scrapped on Thursday following concerns raised by partner states and widespread public opposition.
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In a statement, LSK President Faith Odhiambo welcomed the President's directive but stressed the need for accountability.
"We call upon the government to make public all the costs and losses incurred and ensure that appropriate measures are undertaken to minimise losses to the country," she said.
The LSK highlighted multiple concerns surrounding the controversial deals, citing violations of statutory and procedural requirements during their procurement.
Odhiambo explained that the proposals were awarded to Adani Group subsidiaries in apparent disregard of the Public-Private Partnerships Act, prompting the society to challenge the agreements in court on September 9 and October 23, 2024.
Public scrutiny
As a result of the LSK's legal interventions, the High Court imposed a stay on further transactions related to the projects.
However, public scrutiny intensified over the due diligence conducted on the Adani Group, with questions raised about the company's integrity and track record.
President Ruto addressed the issue during his State of the Nation speech in Parliament, acknowledging the public's concerns and citing disclosures by partner states as the basis for cancelling the agreements.
The LSK commended this move as a positive step toward safeguarding Kenya's national interests and upholding constitutional governance.
"We laud the public's resoluteness throughout the extensive efforts to stop the potentially dangerous surrender of Kenya's national assets to dubious and untested entities," she said Odhiambo.
However, the LSK cautioned the government against allowing similar lapses in compliance to occur in the future.
The LSK has urged the government to ensure strict adherence to statutory frameworks in all future partnerships and to prioritise public opinion in decision-making processes.
"It would be inimical to the government's duty to act in the best interests of the public if the overdue recognition of the issues surrounding the Adani deals came after the same had been implemented," Odhiambo warned.
The society reaffirmed its commitment to promoting constitutional governance and protecting public resources.
"We encourage members of the public to remain vigilant in protecting the sovereignty of the Kenyan people and adherence to the national values and principles of governance under Article 10 of the Constitution," said the LSK president.
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