Moses Kuria has been exposed for his involvement in a high-profile PR campaign surrounding the controversial deal that allowed the Adani Group to take over management of Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for 30 years.
The Kenyan government, in an effort to justify this deal, contracted Kuria’s PR firm, Oxygene, to manage the public relations campaign for a hefty KSh 20 million.
This deal has raised many eyebrows, as it seems to prioritize promoting the Adani Group at the expense of transparency and accountability.
Oxygene’s role has extended beyond regular PR work.
Social media influencers have been enlisted to create a positive image of the Adani Group.
There are also plans to send vloggers to India to showcase Adani’s operations and infrastructure, particularly highlighting airports the group manages.
This is intended to convince the Kenyan public of the supposed benefits of the takeover, despite growing criticism and skepticism about Adani’s track record in the construction and infrastructure sectors.
In fact, much of what is being showcased as Adani’s achievements were actually the work of other companies, like GVK, who originally developed major projects like Mumbai Airport before Adani took over their management.
The PR campaign is being seen as a strategic effort to downplay public outrage, with concerns that the government is going to great lengths to justify the deal.
Many have pointed out that the deal itself was rushed, raising questions about how Adani became involved so quickly after a feasibility report was completed.
There are accusations of insider dealings, with some MPs demanding a forensic audit into the process.
This audit will focus on how the deal affects other airports and the livelihoods of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) staff, as well as how Adani was able to enter negotiations so swiftly after the report’s release.
Oxygene, the PR firm, has a questionable history. It has been linked to scandals, including allegations of sexual harassment, mismanagement, and corruption within its ranks.
In 2019, the firm was involved in a wrongful dismissal case that brought these issues to light.
Despite this, the firm continues to secure high-profile contracts, including government projects and corporate deals, reflecting the deep political connections of its owner, Moses Kuria.
This latest PR campaign is a clear attempt to sway public opinion in favor of a highly controversial deal that risks placing one of Kenya’s most critical national assets in foreign hands for decades.
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