Nelson Amenya, the well-known whistleblower behind the controversial JKIA deal exposé, has made it clear that he has no plans to return to Kenya as long as President William Ruto remains in power.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Amenya said that he fears for his life due to the sensitive information he released about the Ksh246 billion deal involving the Indian-based Adani Group and the Kenyan government.
This deal, which aimed to hand over the management of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Adani for 30 years, caused a lot of public anger and protest, especially from airport workers who feared losing their jobs.
Amenya said he received the documents about the deal from a government insider shortly after the anti-finance bill protests in June 2025. At first, he didn’t think the documents were a big deal. But after reading them closely, he realized how badly the deal would affect ordinary Kenyans.
According to him, the terms were unfair. The Adani Group would take over operations and modernisation of JKIA, but this would come at the cost of many employees losing their jobs.
The deal looked like it was made behind closed doors without public input and with little concern for the workers or the long-term impact on the country.
On July 11, 2024, Amenya posted the information on his X account, and within just 24 hours, it had been viewed more than a million times. That post triggered a wave of criticism, not only from citizens but also from civil society groups and workers’ unions.
The pressure from the public forced the government to react. Eventually, during the State of the Nation address on November 21, President Ruto announced the cancellation of the deal. However, by that time, Amenya had already gone into hiding, and he later left the country for France, where he is now studying business.
In the interview, Amenya admitted that the fallout from his whistleblowing had changed his life forever. He explained that Kenya is not a safe space for critics of the government, pointing out that others who have spoken out have been harassed, kidnapped, or even killed.
He said he was aware of the risks but felt it was his duty to act. He insisted that his fight for accountability would continue through online activism and exposing corruption whenever he could, even if it meant staying away from his home country for years. Amenya remains determined not to return to Kenya until a new administration is in place.
For him, it is not just about safety, but also a matter of principle. He believes that a government that puts the interests of foreign corporations ahead of its own citizens is not one he can trust.
His story highlights the dangers faced by whistleblowers in Kenya and how hard it can be to speak the truth in a system that punishes dissent.
Despite the cost, Amenya said he has no regrets. His stand has inspired many Kenyans to question deals made by the state and demand more transparency.
