Aaron Cheruiyot Vows To Sue KTN, Adani Whistleblower Over Claims He Brokered JKIA Deal

Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has expressed his intention to sue both the Kenya Television Network (KTN) and Nelson Amenya, the whistleblower in the Adani Group deal with the government to take over Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

This comes hours after Amenya claimed that Cheruiyot allegedly received bribes to fast-track the deal which would see Adani take over JKIA for a period of 30 years amidst plans to refurbish the country's largest airport.

Speaking at the Senate on Thursday, September 19, the Majority Leader expressed that he had never met Gautam Adani, the group's founder, or any officials of the Indian company.

He added that he was not in any position to negotiate on behalf of Kenya in the deal as he did not work for the Ministry of Transport and the Kenya Airports Authority.

A collage of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) (background), Chairman of Adani Group Gautam Adani and Nelson Amenya. /VIRAL TEA KE

"I wanted to put it on record that first, I don't work for KAA and I don't work for the Ministry of Transport. I don't know on what conditions somebody can allege that I brokered a deal between Kenya and another foreign entity whose owner and agents I have never met," he affirmed.

Cheruiyot went on to accuse Amenya of using the KTN News interview to tarnish his reputation with false claims, arguing that he has toiled to grow and maintain his image in the public eye.

To prevent his reputation from going down further, the Senator declared that he would instruct his lawyers to initiate legal proceedings against him.

"I have worked extremely hard in my public life to protect my image. Those who know me and have worked with me long enough can speak to my integrity as a person. I don't do those kind of things. Even as a country, as we call for new levels of accountability, doesn't it behove us that we behave better than those we accuse of committing certain ills?" he posed.

"You cannot fight corruption by character assassination of other citizens of the republic. That gentleman, I want to put it straight to him that my lawyers will be reaching out to him," the Senator remarked.

Cheruiyot, in renewing his attack on the media, claimed that Kenyan media stations have failed to observe the same level of credibility as the likes of internationally-renowned BBC, which he claimed has an editorial policy which has them delay their live broadcasts so that in case someone was to malign someone else or say the information they cannot prove at that particular time, it is regulated and edited out.

"I also ask myself, what happened to our media stations? Even as I seek justice for my name, the media house that was also used to soil my name will equally have to give an account," he vowed.

During the interview on Wednesday, September 18, Amenya claimed that only Cheruiyot knew about the deal, adding that he shared the deal documents with politicians, claiming that not even Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka was aware of the Adani deal with the government of Kenya. 

He however stated that he has no documents to support his statements, and the government would deny the claims because there is no evidence. 

Amenya thus challenged the senator to come forward and deny that he travelled to India or was involved in the JKIA-Adani deal.