Come clean on cost of Adani deals, Ruto told

A section of church leaders are demanding clarity from the government on the cost implication of the botched Adani Ltd deals on Kenyans.

Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK) on Wednesday raised concern over the cancelled Adani deals, saying Kenyans are worried over the financial implications. 

"How much will the public pay for these hurriedly conceptualised and executed contracts? Will the officers responsible be brought to book? Will Kenyans ever get a refund for what was spent in these contracts?" posed EAK General Secretary Kepha Nyandega.

EAK said the support Adani has received over time from government officials against public outcry before the cancellation of the contracts, raises questions on credibility of the deals.

The statement comes barely a week after President William Ruto, during his second State of the Nation address ordered cancellation of Adani deal with Ketraco to develop power transmission lines at a tune of Sh97 billion for a period of 30 years. 

Similarly, Adani had also been involved in controversial talks with the government to manage Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for the same period.

Ruto cancelled the Adani deals just hours after the Indian company was indicted in New York for alleged bribery.  

The EAK clerics also faulted Ruto's administration over failure to address the high cost of living. "Poverty brings a lot of mistrust. When people don't have even food to eat, they turn to each other. So this has been a big problem. And that is why we are calling for the convention because when we come in together, we will discuss on the way forward and what we can do," said Nyandega. 

"It has also been brought by high cost of living. People have seen life to be very difficult. And they think the best way is to do away with the families, to do away with the partner and the children," he added. 

They also faulted the State for failing to address escalating cases of abductions, extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances. 

"Is our Constitution partially suspended, why are foreigners being abducted and repatriated from Kenya against International law and constitution?" posed the EAK chairperson Bishop Philip Kitolo.