Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his Azimio brigade have criticised President Wiliam Ruto’s government over what they termed a plot to auction the country to foreigners.
This is even as they vowed to mount an aggressive battle – on the streets and in courts – to safeguard the country from being captured by foreign forces.
“We want to assure Kenyans that we will not allow our country to be auctioned by this ‘bread-based’ regime,” Kalonzo said.
“We shall fight in Parliament, we shall fight them in court, we shall fight them on the streets but we will never surrender our country to these later-day merchants of Venice.”
Last week, the government signed a Sh95.68 billion deal with Adani that would allow the Indian firm to build and operate four electricity transmission lines for 30 years.
The deal came amid controversy stirred by the same firm over its planned takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – a move aviation workers have vowed to resist.
Addressing a press conference at Panari Hotel on Sunday, Kalonzo said Kenya is facing an unprecedented threat where key sectors – Energy, Transport to Health – have seen multi-billion deals being granted to Adani in “an opaque, non-competitive and secretive manner.”
Accompanied by Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa, the Wiper chief said Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment is being used to cover up the ongoing state capture by Adani and other ills in government.
“We reiterate our position that the Impeachment drama was a smokescreen that was meant to divert the attention of Kenyans and provide cover for these multi-billion deals to be sealed by the bread-based government,” Kalonzo said.
“Under the cloud of the impeachment drama, Kenya has been captured by Adani the way South Africa was State-captured.”
The former vice president spoke days after the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited signed the Sh95.68 billion deal with Adani.
“This agreement (Adani Energy Solutions and Ketraco) marks the beginning of a transformative initiative to develop, finance, construct, operate, and maintain key transmission lines and substations across Kenya,” Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi said on Friday.
Adani is also seeking to operate the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in a 30-year Sh230 billion deal that has triggered a public uproar.
Kalonzo said Azimio has challenged the bid and will be appearing in court on October 17.
“In the case of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, this is a Sh236 billion 30-year deal allegedly to upgrade the airport, which we have challenged in court,” he stated.
In the healthcare sector and against public outcry, the government signed a Sh104 billion deal for a ‘defective’ Social Health Authority / Social Health Insurance Fund system.
Kalonzo also accused the government of attacking the Judiciary which he described as the ‘last line of defence’ for Kenyans.
“We urge them to continue being our shield and defender against an increasingly autocratic regime hellbent on returning this country to the dark days of oppression.”
“This overbearing Executive has indeed captured Parliament. If that was not clear before, the impeachment events made it starkly so,” he said.
Kalonzo said the opposition will abide by a court ruling expected to be delivered today on the composition of the IEBC selection panel.
“We believe that the formation of
an independent Commission that
has the trust of the people of Kenya
is the most crucial cog that will help
safeguard our democracy.”
