Nelson Amenya is a Kenyan whistleblower and MBA candidate at HEC Paris, known for exposing a controversial deal involving the Adani Group’s proposal to lease Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
His revelations, which included secret negotiations and potential misuse of funds, have sparked significant public outcry and a parliamentary investigation.
Despite his commitment to transparency, Amenya has faced threats and intimidation from various parties, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kenya.
However, his efforts finally paid off when President William Ruto cancelled all deals between Adani Group and the government.
Education
Amenya is presently enrolled in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at HEC Paris, with an anticipated graduation date in 2025.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Communication and Advertising from Moi University, where he attended from 2013 to 2017.
Amenya completed his primary education at Muthaiga Primary School and sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at Nyeri Baptist High School.
Career
Amenya served as a Creative Manager at Majid Al Futtaim in Nairobi from May 2020 to August 2023, leading branding strategies for stores across Kenya and Uganda.
In May 2023, he co-founded Afrinet Carbon, a climate finance company focused on promoting sustainable practices and carbon offset initiatives across Africa.
As a co-founder, Amenya engaged in developing innovative solutions to address climate change while creating economic opportunities.
He also holds a partnership position at Patahao App, an innovative mobile application revolutionizing the property market by offering features like live chats and geolocation.
Amenya has experience as a UI/UX Designer and Web Designer, where he designed user interfaces and experiences for various digital platforms.
Exposing Adani
Amenya gained recognition for unveiling a contentious agreement concerning the lease of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Adani Group, a prominent Indian conglomerate.
In July 2024, he disclosed documents that outlined clandestine discussions between the Kenyan government and Adani, revealing terms that sparked considerable public apprehension.
Amenya noted that the agreement would grant Adani control over JKIA for a duration of 30 years, with stipulations that could threaten Kenya’s economic interests.
His revelations incited widespread protests and strikes among airport employees, as well as a parliamentary inquiry into the agreement.
In the wake of the exposé, Amenya faced threats and intimidation from various parties, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and online harassment from Indian bloggers.
Cancellation of Adani deals
On November 21, 2024, President William Ruto canceled all agreements with the Adani Group; the airport management deal and the power transmission project.
The decision followed the indictment of Adani’s founder, Gautam Adani, on fraud charges in the US
Ruto cited “new information” regarding corruption as the basis for his actions during his state-of-the-nation address, aiming to uphold transparency and accountability in government dealings.
“I now direct in furtherance of the principles enshrined in article 10 of the Constitution on transparent accountability and based on new information provided by investigative agencies and partner nations that the procuring agencies within the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Energy Petroleum to immediately cancel the ongoing procurement process for the JKIA expansion
“They should begin the process of onboarding alternative partners because these are important projects. We value the contribution of all whether it comes in the form of support, criticism or protest. The most important component of leadership is listening and learning,” Ruto said.
