In October 2024, Wandayi announced the signing of a 30-year deal between KETRACO and Adani Energy Solutions to develop, finance, construct, operate, and maintain key transmission lines and substations across the country.
In light of the government of the United States of America (USA) Federal Court delivering a ruling indicting the Adani Group directors over accusations of corruption, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi stated that the developments will not affect the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) deal with Adani Energy Solutions.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday, November 21, Wandayi argued that the indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani in the US on a Ksh32 billion ($250 million) bribery case was not connected to the deal.
In October 2024, Wandayi announced the signing of a 30-year deal between KETRACO and Adani Energy Solutions to develop, finance, construct, operate, and maintain key transmission lines and substations across the country.
According to the CS at that time, the Ksh95.68 billion deal would address the persistent power blackouts, as well as ensure power reliability.
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi during a familiarisation visit to Kenya Power on September 5, 2024. /OPIYO WANDAYI
“The question is, Would these emerging reports in any way affect the delivery of this project? We can’t tell. Why? Because they are not related to this project. We can’t even vouch for their veracity from where we sit unless we would be engaging in speculation,” he argued.
Wandayi further stated that there was no case of bribery before the signing of the deal between KETRACO and Adani Energy Solutions.
“Could these bribery or corruption claims have a bearing on our own process? To my knowledge, there has been no case of corruption or bribery as far as this PIP of Adani Energy Solutions is concerned, up to this very moment,” he added.
The CS further noted that the government conducted due diligence on the Adani Group before engaging the conglomerate through a two-phased exercise by the government through the Treasury and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company on the suitability of the firm with regard to legal issues.
”On the matter of Adani’s indictment, under section 41 of the Private Public Partnership(PPP) Act, we have an elaborate mechanism for undertaking due diligence. The PPP Directorate domiciled under the Treasury in coordination with KETRACO conducted a due diligence exercise on Adani Energy Solution in two phases,’’ Wandayi stated.