Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the controversial Adani airport deal.
Speaking during the 3rd National Executive Retreat in Karen, Raila noted that the country lost a strategic opportunity after the deal fell through.
He singled out political maneuvering as the key reason for the deal’s collapse, warning that the fallout from the cancelled deal could affect Nairobi’s relevance.
Raila says he was disappointed after the cancellation of the JKIA Adani deal. Photo: Courtesy.
“Kenya is very strategically located. I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the airport contract. When they brought in Adani, they brought all these politics, and the contract was cancelled. If that is not done, Nairobi will become dormant,” he noted.
The president ordered the cancellation of the Adani-JKIA expansion deal as well as the Adani-Ketraco deal on November 21, 2024.
As explained by the Head of State, the new orders were informed by new information regarding the integrity of the Indian company.
Notably, before the cancellation of the deal, Raila was among the leaders who defended the Adani Group.
He claimed that Kenya’s economic challenges necessitate embracing Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to attract investment.
Despite concerns about transparency and investor integrity, Raila argued that Adani’s capabilities surpass those of other firms in East Africa.
