An environmental entrepreneur, cinema enthusiast, graphic designer, and anti-corruption activist, Nelson Amenya (MBA.25) is well known in Kenya for exposing a major political and financial scandal. At just 30 years old, he has become a national symbol of civic courage. 

In his home country, Nelson is regarded as a hero.Just a year ago, the young Kenyan made headlines after publishing details of a shady agreement between the Kenyan government and Indian conglomerate for the renovation of Nairobi’s international airport. In the spring of 2024, an anonymous intermediary linked to a government official approached Nelson and provided him with the proposed contract between the Ministry of Energy and the Adani Group, valued at $2 billion. “At first glance, nothing seemed out of place. But as I reviewed the details, I noticed several red flags: no public tender, an accelerated approval process, ignored regulations, and suspicious wire transfers to a receivables fund in Abu Dhabi. Then I looked into Adani and found a company already surrounded by allegations of corruption and drug trafficking,” the whistleblower recalls. 

By early July, rumors were swirling the Minister of Energy had been caught in Dubai with $2 million—ironically, at the headquarters of one of Adani’s shell companies. Nelson decided he could no longer stay silent. Days later, he posted the most damning excerpts of the agreement on his X (formerly Twitter) account, along with clear explanations and explicit accusations of government corruption.The revelations sent shockwaves through Kenya. The matter quickly escalated to the courts, public outrage boiled over, and protests erupted around the airport. Under mounting pressure, President William Ruto announced on November 20, 2024, that the government was terminating the agreement. 

“It was a massive victory—not just for the Kenyan people, but for all of Africa,” Nelson says enthusiastically. “It encouraged young people to keep fighting for justice and forced authorities to embrace greater transparency. We’re already seeing changes in how public-private partnerships are handled and more citizen consultations taking place.” Widely credited as the catalyst behind this accountability movement, Nelson was named one of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024 by New African Magazine and received the Transparency International Integrity Award for Whistleblower Actions. 

From cinema dreams to the supermarket 

How did a young man raised between Nairobi’s suburbs and the Kenyan highlands—who once dreamed of becoming a pilot or a Hollywood star—become the face of Africa’s anti-corruption fight? It all began in the Ridgeways neighborhood of Nairobi, when aged around 17 Nelson became captivated by cinema thanks to his neighbors—a film director and an actress. The actress often worked alongside another neighborhood talent: Lupita Nyong’o, who would win an Oscar in 2014 for “Twelve Years a Slave”.  

“Being around people who built great careers probably fueled my own ambitions,” Nelson reflects. “They encouraged me to study design and graphic animation, which offered a gateway into cinema while keeping other career options open.” In 2013, he enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Communication and Media Studies at Moi University in Eldoret. There in Kenya’s highlands, he crossed paths with a different kind of elite—the region’s famed long-distance runners, including Eliud Kipchoge and Kelvin Kiptum. Before graduating, Nelson was already building websites for intergovernmental organizations. He landed his first job at a small agency, taking on multiple roles: photographer, videographer, web designer, marketing manager. These experiences connected him with influencers and helped him establish a strong online presence, particularly on Twitter/X. 

Then his career took an unexpected turn. On a friend’s recommendation he applied for a graphic designer role in retail at Carrefour. Against the odds, he advanced through the selection process. At the final interview, however, the HR manager noticed he still lived with his parents, was unmarried, and lacked extensive experience. She decided the proposed salary was too high for him—and cut it by two-thirds. “I wanted to turn it down. But I also wanted to prove my worth and show her she was wrong.” Five and a half years, multiple promotions, and several role changes later, Nelson left the retail giant—with much to prove, and even more to accomplish. 

 

Aligning career with convictions 

That final year at Carrefour, while wrapping up projects and training his successors, Nelson found time to deepen his activism. First came his environmental work. After co-launching a startup producing recyclable bags and helping his brother manage an insect farming business, he founded Afrinet Carbon in 2023. The company supports carbon offset projects, plans to replant mangroves along Kenya’s deforested coast, and promotes bamboo farming as a sustainable alternative. 

Simultaneously, Nelson began speaking out against the Kenyan government’s policies, which he viewed as unjust and ineffective. Building on the popularity he had gained through social media marketing and his environmental initiatives, his critiques gained traction. He shared footage of police violence, participated in anti-tax campaigns, organized public meetings, and built alliances with influential civil society and political figures—among them Professor PLO Lumumba, former director of Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Commission. His outspoken stance and growing following (he now has 200,000 followers on X) likely made him the ideal candidate for the insider who leaked the controversial Kenyatta Airport renovation contract. And perhaps, there was another reason he was chosen. 

 

Exposing corruption from abroad 

At the time he received the incriminating documents, Nelson had been living in France for several months, having enrolled in the HEC Paris MBA to “join the circle of decision-makers.” “Being in a foreign country probably gave me more freedom to expose the facts,” he admits. “Since then, I’ve faced legal action, my family has been pressured, and I’m uncertain what awaits me if I return to Kenya.” He has shared on social media the intimidation attempts he endured in the summer of 2024: a police raid on Afrinet Carbon’s offices, visits from officers to his parents’ home, and most notably, having to flee to Italy in September to escape Kenyan government agents reportedly dispatched to Paris. 

Fearing imprisonment if he returns to Kenya, Nelson now awaits the next presidential election in summer 2027, hoping the political tide will turn. 

Photos : ©Ed Alcock

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