POLITICS

Sen. Maanzo: Adani Funded Raila’s Presidential Campaigns

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has accused the Adani Group of secretly financing Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s past presidential campaigns. He made these claims on Citizen TV’s Day Break show on Monday, October 14, further implying that both President William Ruto and Raila Odinga might have been bribed to favor deals with the Adani Group.

During the televised interview, Senator Maanzo shared his concerns over the recently proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal between the Adani Group and the Kenyan government. According to Maanzo, the alleged financial support Raila received from Adani during previous campaigns explains why the opposition leader is now a vocal supporter of the company’s controversial projects in Kenya.

Senator Dan Maanzo has accused Adani of financing Raila Odinga’s past campaigns
PHOTO: Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo | CITIZEN TV

“It was one of the companies backing his campaign to help him secure the presidency in 2012,” Maanzo said. “This is a much larger scheme, and it’s why there was no competitive procurement process. If things were transparent, multiple companies would have been allowed to bid.”

Accusations of Bribery and Political Influence

Senator Maanzo further alleged that the Adani Group’s financial involvement extends beyond campaign support. He claimed that substantial bribes were exchanged to secure government contracts for the company. According to Maanzo, both Raila Odinga and President William Ruto were involved in these shady transactions.

ALSO READ: Adani Energy Signs Ksh. 95.7 Billion Deal to End Power Blackouts in Kenya

“We know that huge bribes, amounting to billions of shillings, have been given to key political figures,” Maanzo stated. “This is how the Adani Group has landed major deals in Kenya. I am talking about Raila Odinga and William Ruto.”

However, the Senator refrained from revealing the exact amounts or more details about the alleged transactions. He maintained that he would disclose the full information on the parliamentary floor at the appropriate time.

PHOTO: A collage of Raila Odinga and President William Ruto with | FILE

Maanzo also alleged the existence of brokers who facilitated the deal between the Adani Group and Kenya’s top political leaders. He argued that the partnership agreement was arranged without transparency, favoring Adani through direct procurement processes.

“There are numerous companies worldwide that could have competed for these contracts, but instead, Adani was handed the deal directly,” Maanzo said. “This entire process is cloaked in secrecy, involving brokers and political machinations.”

Opiyo Wandayi’s Appointment Linked to Adani Deal

Maanzo didn’t stop at accusing Ruto and Raila. He also linked Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi’s appointment to the alleged deal. The Senator suggested that Wandayi’s appointment was part of a broader scheme to cover up the agreement between the India-based firm and the two political heavyweights.

PHOTO: Raila Odinga during a past event| COURTESY

“They know how much they received, and that’s why Opiyo Wandayi is now the Minister for Energy,” Maanzo added. “It’s all part of a well-orchestrated plan.”

The controversy gained more fuel when Raila Odinga, in a recent press statement, expressed his full support for the Public-Private Partnership between the government and the Adani Group.
Odinga argued that this deal is the best way to drive Kenya’s economic growth and reduce the tax burden on citizens.

He also admitted that he had known about the Adani Group since 2010, during his tenure as Prime Minister, further raising questions about the nature of his relationship with the company.

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About Mboto Harry Ivan

Mboto Harry is a Linguistics, Media and Communication student at Moi University. He is a print and digital journalist with 3+ years of writing quality and engaging news articles and feature stories across various platforms. Email: harryivan272@gmail.com | WhatsApp: +254102796337

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