Billionaire Gautam Adani’s proposal to run Kenya’s main airport has sparked protests, Senate hearings and lawsuits against the group controlled by Asia’s second-richest man, even as it bags a deal to construct high-voltage power transmission lines in the East African nation.

A big controversy has erupted in Kenya after the Indian company, Adani Group, proposed a deal to run the country’s largest airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The company known for managing airports and other large projects has offered to take control of JKIA for 30 years and expand its operations.

Kenya’s President Ruto faces mounting pressure over a series of controversial proposals by an Indian conglomerate to upgrade the country's aging infrastructure.

Terms of the airport proposal include Adani taking an 18% equity stake in JKIA and winning an undertaking that no competing airport will be built for 30 years, according to the court documents arguing against the deal, which included details of the leaked Adani offer.

A Kenya Airways Boeing 737-800 is parked during a strike by Kenya airports union workers to protest against a proposed deal for India’s Adani Group to lease Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for 30 years, in Nairobi, Kenya on September 11. | Photo Credit: Reuters

As India leans more toward the private sector to fulfill its overseas economic goals, it must take measures to ensure its credibility remains unaffected.

Kenya Electricity Transmission Co. continues negotiations with Adani Energy for three power lines, disputing claims of awarded deals worth $1.3 billion.