Kenya has granted a public-private partnership concession to construct power transmission lines to the Adani Group of India and a division of the African Development Bank, as stated by an economic adviser to the president of the country.
According to David Ndii, President William Ruto’s chief economic adviser, who shared the information in a post on X, the concession is valued at $1.3 billion.
“The government, through KETRACO, has awarded PPP concessions to Adani and Africa50 for the construction of new transmission lines. They are currently in the process of hiring their project teams. The cost of these transmission lines is $1.3 billion, which we do not need to borrow.” Ndili stated.
Africa50 is a subsidiary specialising in infrastructure investment under the African Development Bank.
A different initiative by the Kenyan government to lease the main international airport of the country to the Adani Group has sparked outrage among Kenyans and led to a strike by aviation workers.
The plan involves leasing the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the Adani Group for 30 years in exchange for $1.85 billion of Adani’s investment in its expansion.
Adani’s group manages seven airports in India and has frequently faced criticism from opposition parties in India for receiving favours from the ruling governments. Indian officials and the Adani group have refuted such allegations.
Kenya is grappling with a substantial debt burden stemming from years of hefty spending on infrastructure.