President William Ruto’s decision to cancel the deeply unpopular multi-billion-shilling airport and power transmission deals with troubled Indian conglomerate Adani Group took many by surprise. But it had been long in coming, sources say.

A defiant ruling elite faced with months of spirited public opposition fought to defend the controversial agreements till the last minute, but enormous pressure by authorities in the United States of America after a decisive action to indict Adani companies’ top executives over massive bribery forced the President’s hand.