- Cheruiyot further added that he will explore legal actions to protect his name from alleged defamation.
- The Adani deal to take over JKIA triggered massive uproar and protests in Kenya.
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Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has distanced himself from allegations linking him with the Adani and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport deal.
This is after an Indian firm Adani Airports Holdings Limited submitted a proposal to take over the running and management of JKIA.
Reports on Wednesday alleged that Cheruiyot was among those who brokered the deal.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Cheruiyot said he doesn't know the Adani firm.
The Senator said that those who have known him for a long time will attest to his personality.
"I want to put it on record that I don't work for the Kenya Airports Authority and the Ministry of Transport. I don't know on what condition someone can allege that I brokered a deal between Kenya and another foreign entity whose owner, or agency I have never met," he said.
"I have worked extremely hard in my public life to protect my image. Those who know and have worked with me long enough can speak to my integrity as a person. I don't do those kind of things."
The Senator added that the age of politics of character assassinations is long gone.
"Doesn't it behove that we behave better than those we accuse of committing certain ills?" he asked.
Cheruiyot further added that he will explore legal actions to protect his name from alleged defamation.
The Adani deal to take over JKIA triggered massive uproar and protests in the country.
The government sought to clarify why an ongoing deal to upgrade the JKIA is necessary amid claims that the airport had been sold to an Indian investor.
Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura, while dismissing the reports, said the deal is a public-private partnership whose goal is to modernise the JKIA to international standards.
In the deal, the government intends to bring on board Indian-based Adani Group Holdings to undertake the refurbishment works in a process Mwaura says is rigorous.
The Indian multinational dismissed claims JKIA has been leased for 30 years, saying the project is yet to be approved, court documents seen by the Star indicated.
The company argued that the current cases filed in court challenging the controversial takeover are ill-timed as the project is still at the review and due diligence stage.
In response to a case filed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Law Society of Kenya, Alok Patni says most of the information contained in the current case is false.
The group, however, admitted to having an interest in JKIA following media reports that highlighted its deteriorating state.
Intrigued by the potential for revitalisation, the Adani's said they envisioned a hub that could transform Kenya's economy and restore its national pride.