Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Davis Chirchir has shed light on the Indian multinational conglomerate Adani Group’s proposal to invest in Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).
Speaking during a live interview with a local TV station, the immediate former energy CS disclosed that Adani presented a proposal to KETRACO that could see it take over a few power lines.
He further stated that, in the proposal, Adani showed interest in operating the Gilgil-Thika-Malala electricity line under KETRACO.
However, Chirchir noted that there are hundreds of such Public Private Proposals (PPPs) within various areas of the energy sector, including generation and transmission.
“It could be one of the PPP proposals in energy because there are several PPP proposals in energy today. In generation alone, there are over 150 proposals by different companies,” Chirchir disclosed.
When asked to indicate the specific project that Adani has shown interest in, he stated, “I think there is one line between Gilgil-Thika-Malaa that is still going through the due process, like for all programmes there are those 20 processes that you have to go through.”
Additionally, after being asked about the worth of Adani’s proposal, the CS disclosed that he didn’t have the figures, but it might be slightly below the controversial Adani-JKIA deal.
“I don’t have the numbers, but it is possibly slightly below (the Adani-JKIA deal),” Chirchir disclosed.
Chirchir went further to state that the PPP projects in the energy sector have been running for years, adding that all the solar plants currently in the country are on the PPP framework except Garrisa.
“Until I left, I was aware that there were programmes and several proposals under PPP on transmission, and like I said, there is nothing new about PPP projects in energy. We have been running for the last 25 years; all the solar plants in Kenya today except Garrisa are on the PPP framework,” he added.
Adani and KETRACO deals
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, during the Senate committee grilling session of CS Chirchir, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka claimed that apart from the controversial JKIA deal, Adani has other proposals in the energy and health sectors.
“Adani has been given contractual arrangements for them to supply power in Kenya through KETRACO, and they are intending to take over KenGen, and they will be the ones running the insurance system for our healthcare SHIF,” claimed Onyonka.