President Ruto's 'long-term friend' Adil defends Nick Ruto's job at Adani's Kenya law firm

Kenyans online have raised speculations over Denton's involvement with Adani, with critics arguing that the firm's deals with the government are based on its links to the country's top brass.

Adil Arshed Khawaja, Safaricom board chairperson and the Managing Partner at the law firm, however, set the record straight, saying that Nick earned the opportunity to work at Dentons HHM on merit.

He added that the company has, in a similar fashion, hired high-profile individuals based on their qualifications. 

"I didn't even know that he (Nick) had applied. We receive thousands of applications each year and he was one of the applicants. He went through the process and was selected," he said during a phone interview with Nation. 

Adil and President Ruto have a close friendship, which he said has lasted over 30 years, with the businessman accompanying the head of state on various international trips.

Adil also defended Adani's decision to pick his law firm in the case, saying that Dentons HHM has experience in dealing with cases concerning Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. 

According to the profile on its website, the law firm prides itself on offering legal solutions to both corporate and individual clients since 1902.

"Adani are one of the biggest companies in the world. They are already running the Port in Tanzania and they want to expand across the East African region," Adil said. 

Adani wants to revamp JKIA on a Ksh.258 billion deal based on a PPP agreement.

Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), however, challenged the proposal through a petition, arguing that leasing the airport violates the principle of good governance, transparency and accountability. 

The obscure nature of the Adani proposal also attracted the attention of a parliamentary committee that has called for a special audit of the deal, instructing all processes with the Indian conglomerate to cease until they submit a report before Parliament by the end of October.