ODM leader Raila Odinga has defended the government deal with Indian firm Adani Holdings Limited that seeks to overhaul and upgrade Jomo Kenyatta International  Airport (JKIA) despite the heat it has raised in country.

Raila said the arrangement handled through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement was a better way of executing state projects than seeking funds through World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) adding the government is today reeling under a debt burden.

In a stand that reveals a changed opposition leader who previously would get at the government attacking it from all corners, a mellowed-down Raila insisted that the airport upgrade and power distribution in the country was a better deal. 

“We all have misgivings about how the current proposed PPP concerning JKIA and power distribution have been processed which has resulted in the raging debate over the involvement of the Indian firm in the airport and energy sector projects. Unfortunately, these misgivings have also resulted in a lot of misinformation regarding the investors who have made the PPP proposals,” said Raila. 

Raila also defended the government for transmission of power by state agency Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) despite the matter now being handled by the courts.

A lawsuit, filed by the Commission for Human Rights and Justice through its director, Julius Ogogoh, alleges that the agreement between Ketraco and Adani was conducted secretly, without proper public participation.

According to documents before court, officials from the National Treasury allegedly made a quiet visit to Ahmedabad, India, in January to engage in discussions with Adani regarding the implementation of transmission PPPs with little involvement of the public. 

Yesterday, however, while addressing the media at a Mombasa hotel, Raila said when he was the Prime Minister he was invited to India and liked the massive development which Adani had done.

“When I was the Prime Minister, I was introduced to the company and its activities by Prime Minister Narenda Modi while he was the Chief Minister of the state of Gujarati,” Raila said. By Willis Oketch, The Standard

Raila said while in Gujarat, he visited several company’s infrastructure  that included the port, power plant, a railway line and an airstrip developed out of a swamp donated by the government,’ He further visited Mumbai and saw electricity projects set up by the company serving over 13 million consumers.

The former prime minister defended the company  and insisted it owns more energy infrastructure than Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania combined

“Adani Energy Solutions has cumulative transmission network of 21,783 circuit kilometers of power transmission lines and 61,686 MVA transmission capacity,” said Raila. He said this was not the first time Adani was coming to Kenya through a PPP arrangement. 

“After the government delegation came back, the company expressed interest in investing in Kenya, the first expression of interest was far back as 2010,” said Raila.

Raila said the most viable tested and reliable means by which Kenyans can develop their country was through public-private partnership

“Under the circumstances, the most viable,tested and reliable means through which we can sustainable address the country’s infrastructure  needs is through Public Private Partnership PPP. and regretted that some people were misinforming the public about the Indian firm.

Meanwhile, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka yesterday cited the Adani deal as one of the big ripoffs that the Ruto administration has launched.

He said the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been launched as a smokescreen to hide the deal, noting that as Kenyans are occupied with discussing the impeachment, nefarious deals will be sealed underneath

“The impeachment drama was a smokescreen that was meant to divert the attention of Kenyans and provide cover for multibillion deals to be sealed by the bread-based Government. Gachagua, as a Kenyan, has got his rights under the law, and I can tell you quite frankly, I was very impressed by his own presentation and his own defence,” said Kalonzo yesterday at a press conference at a Nairobi hotel

In Mombasa Raila who has emerged to be a solid defender of the Ruto administration said the government should design  models which cater for specific realities about any projects if Kenyans were not comfortable with the present one. “Ensure our models provide for the distribution of the PPP burden fairly between the people of Kenya and investors. Kenyans cannot be made to bear all risks in PPP projects. Kenyans can guarantee break – even returns, but never commercial profit,” he said.

Raila further dismissed those agitating for public participation  in every development being initiated

“The public participation in this country is being taken out content. In developed countries there is nothing like that,” said Raila. By Willis Oketch, The Standard