Nick Ruto’s Role in Adani Group’s Ambitious Plan to Control JKIA
A fresh wave of controversy has arisen after it was revealed that Nick Ruto, son of President William Ruto, is now part of the legal team defending Adani Airports Holdings in its ambitious bid to take over the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Nick Ruto is currently working with Dentons, Hamilton Harrison & Mathews (HHM), the prestigious law firm representing Adani in a lawsuit challenging its bid for control of Kenya’s busiest airport.
The involvement of Nick Ruto has sparked a considerable amount of public interest, given his family ties to the president and the magnitude of the deal. HHM’s managing partner, Adil Khawaja, who also serves as the chairman of Safaricom’s board, was quick to address concerns about Nick’s recruitment at the firm, insisting that the process was transparent and fair.
“I didn’t even know that he (Nick) had applied. We receive thousands of applications each year, and he was one of the applicants. He went through the process and was selected,” Khawaja told Daily Nation. Khawaja, a long-time friend of President Ruto, emphasized that Nick Ruto had earned his place at the firm through merit.
The revelations about Khawaja and Ruto’s three-decade friendship have fueled speculation about the influence of personal connections in high-stakes deals like Adani’s takeover bid. Khawaja, however, dismissed these claims, asserting that the firm’s involvement with Adani was based on its extensive experience with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) cases.
“Dentons HHM has been handling cases involving PPP initiatives for years. We are proud to have a longstanding reputation for providing legal solutions since 1902,” Khawaja remarked.
He also defended the Adani Group’s intentions in Kenya, noting the company’s expanding footprint in East Africa. “Adani are one of the biggest companies in the world. They are already running the port in Tanzania, and they want to expand across the East African region,” Khawaja explained.
As Adani Airports Holdings continues its bid to take over JKIA, the legal battle, intertwined with the influence of key political figures, is likely to draw more scrutiny.
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Nick Ruto’s Role in Adani Group’s Ambitious Plan to Control JKIA
