The president william Ruto of Kenya has cancelled high profile deals with India’s Adani Group citing concerns about corruption and lack of transparency. These deals included management and expansions of JKIA under 30 years agreement and power transmissions project under KETRACO. Ruto’s decision followed widespread public backlash against the agreement which common citizens claimed were not Kenya’s best interests and lacked competitive bidding processes.

The move has drawn criticism from Indian political class with opposition leaders accusing Indian prime minister Narendra Modi of prioritizing the Adani Group’s interest over diplomatic ties. While Ruto defended his decision as necessary to uphold accountability, it has sparked concerns about potential diplomatic fallout between Kenya and India.

Locally, stakeholders such as aviation workers and legal advocacy groups supported the cancellation, emphasising the need for more transparency and beneficial public-private partnerships.