Abidjan (© 2025 Afriquinfos)- Discover the story of Nelson Amenya, the Kenyan whistleblower who helped derail a $2 billion unfair deal between the Kenyan State and an Indian tycoon.
Nelson Amenya, thank you for having accepted to answer our questions. For those who don’t know you yet, specifically for our readers in French speaking countries in Africa, you have made yourself a name very famous back in your country, in Kenya, being a whistleblower exposing a high level deal involving a major Indian company and Government officials. Can you tell us a little bit more of what was the deal, how did you heard of it and what did you do to expose it?
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to your esteemed audience, The deal was about a proposal to lease Jomo Kenyatta International Airport which is our main airport and the biggest in the region to an Indian conglomerate Adani group which is a company with a very dark history of corruption, stock manipulation, bribery, fraud and much more. Adani had managed to get the initial approval from the airport authority in a record one day to build operate and transfer the airport after 30 years. Building a new terminal and city side development.
It was during the 2024 finance bill protests just after the major and deadliest protests on June 25, 2024 that sources inside government were emboldened to speak up and shed light on the secret deal which until then had escaped the public eye and scrutiny by design. I was contacted to expose the deal by some people and I agreed as it was at the peak of the protests and we all wanted to contribute to the revolution that was unraveling, being outside of the country gave me more safety as at the time the government was cracking down on dissidents and outspoken critics. Being in France I didn’t have this risk so I could easily expose it and still be safe unlike if I was back in Kenya.
So I went through the documents carefully and established some major red flags, for example they were not going to build a second runway, there would be no similar airport built within Kenya by a different entity, they would take 18% stake in the airport after the lease ends forever, even the employees were not guaranteed of their jobs after they took over, they went as far as requesting to change laws in Kenya to fit their operations. This was a company directly threatening our sovereignty because they had managed to line the pockets of a few government officials including the president himself who later came out guns blazing saying he is not a mad man to sell the airport.
How unexposed it was that I made sure I understood all the details and went on my Twitter account and began posting parts of the documents and explaining what it meant to my fellow Kenyans. It went viral overnight gaining over a million views and more, eventually drawing the attention of the whole nation, causing massive protests and strikes from the airport staff. Parliament also stopped the deal until they had done their investigation. Some Kenyans also went to court and sought orders to stop the deal. The whole country was united to stop the deal from being signed.
After having raised awareness of the public opinion, the deal has been cancelled. How is the situation right now about the project and what have been the consequences for your personal life? Do you feel threatened?
The US indictment of the Adani group led not only to the airport deal being cancelled but all other deals involving Adani that had been signed before like the power transmission deal signed with KETRACCO.
I have been under threat severally, I received intelligence that some officers had been dispatched to track me down from Kenya but I got the information before hand and exposed it in the media, international media has been a huge help to protect me in this uncertain time where powerful forces were hunting me down. Legally they filed defamation cases against me through businessman Jayesh Saini in France and in Kenya, I won the case in France. The leader of majority in Kenyan senate also sued me for defamation in a bid to silence me and intimidate me. They went after my parents too to try to intimidate me. I feel threatened but I have to stay strong for the sake of my country as we are the changemakers who will finally make our country great.
You said you are threatened and can’t go back to Kenya… Though you knew the risks you decided to expose the deal however. What was the meaning of your step forward?
I believe that even in the face of danger those who change the world are the ones who take the risk whether it’s a matter of life and death. To live a full life that has no meaning is nothing, better to die a hero and change your country forever.
What kind of advices would you give to a young individual confronting to the same kind of situation in his own country?
First they need to be aware of the consequences of the decision to expose corruption or economic crimes and be ready to live in the new reality, it is worth the risk after when you see how much impact your actions have on an entire county and even the world, we definitely need more people exposing the broken system so that we can begin to move the right direction. Also get allies people who can connect you to the right people, journalists, influential leaders who can help you to push the topic, also have a social media account that you can independently post your story or expose because sometimes other avenues may be too slow to react. Lastly be very consistent and persistent don’t give up even when it looks impossible.
Is the African youth involved enough in politics?
The african youths have for a long time stayed away from active politics perceiving it as a thing for the older generations but in the recent past as we have seen in Kenya last year this is changing rapidly and we are seeing an emergence of youth activism, more youth vying for leadership positions. The future looks promising with a new awakening from the youth.
From your perspective and regarding the mobilization of the Kenyan civil society on this topic, how do you perceive the role of social media, that you used a lot, in the shaping of future politics and accountability?
Social media does not wait for permission from an editor who might have perceptions and their own interest, the stories that break on social media are organic and genuine. Social media has shaped activism in a new way where anybody can agitate for their rights and start a movement. It is no longer reserved for a few people with access, you don’t even need to set aside a budget for lobbying. It is completely free and organic. I think this is the future of activism, accountability and transparency, we ask our leaders questions directly on Twitter and they respond, during the protests the president came live on Twitter spaces to answer questions one on one from the youths.
Through all your fight, have you felt that the judicial system was providing sufficient tools and processes to tackle this kind of issue and protect the whistleblower? What could be done to improve it from your experience?
The judicial system was very slowly and bureaucratic with little immediate help, there are no tools particular that I know of to tackle such issues and protection of whistleblowers and this needs to change. Even in France the situation wasn’t any better especially that I am a foreigner residing there. The judicary could come up with a whistleblower protection mechanism where they are not silenced or intimidated by law suits and also can protect them by offering free legal aid.
What is the future for Nelson Amenya, now that this story is more and more becoming your past… what are your plans? Business aspirations? Politics?
I plan to venture into civil society and focus on exposing economic crimes, empowering young people to do the same in the continent, I am working with some partners to write a book and other learning materials based on my experience as a whistleblower. I have a consulting company that I use to offer companies who seek to enter the African market insights and market entry strategies, politics maybe in future I could run for office as it is the only sure way to change policy and implement the changes. Our country needs fresh and young minds to do things differently.
Thank you very much, we wish you all the best.
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