Billionaire Gautam Adani-led Adani Group on Monday issued a statement clarifying that the conglomerate has not made any official comments about its projects in Kenya. Additionally, the company in the statement called out various fraudulent press releases circulating and has warned that strict actions will be taken against those spreading false narratives.
“Certain vested interests with malicious intent are circulating multiple fraudulent press releases, including one titled ‘Adani Group Denounces Baseless Accusations and Threats’, related to our presence in Kenya,” said the company’s spokesperson in a statement on its website.
The official statement also had a word of caution for the media. It said that official press releases were available on its website and requested the press and influencers to verify facts and sources prior to publishing or broadcasting any articles or news on the conglomerate.
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What did the Fake Press Release Claim?
The fake press release addressed the demonstrations in Kenya as harmful for the group’s reputation and adversely impacts its efforts to the nation’s progress. It also highlighted that the group has bagged the power transmission lines in Kenya through vigorous, transparent bidding process and were not self-awarded.
“If these threats persist, we will have no option but to reveal the names of government shareholders who have benefitted from our investments. Additionally, we will also publish the names of individuals who have received substantial bribes from our company,” said the fraudulent press release.
The statement by the conglomerate has come just days after David Ndii, the chief economic advisor to the President of Kenya, announced about the joint venture of Adani Group and Africa 50 to build power transmission lines in Kenya.
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“The government, through KETRACO, has awarded PPP concessions to Adani and Africa50 to build NEW transmission lines. They are hiring their project teams. The cost of these transmission lines is $1.3b that we do not have to borrow,” said Ndii.
The move regarding the public-private partnership has come just days after the protests against the proposal to lease Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Adani Group for 30 years has subsided.
