GLOBAL — Indian multinational conglomerate Adani Group has ended a marathon five-and-a-half-year legal battle against Australian environmental activist Ben Pennings, a move celebrated by the campaigner as a “massive victory” on Thursday, 27 November 2025. The decision, finalised by the Queensland Supreme Court, concludes a high-profile case that has significant implications for corporate accountability and environmental advocacy in regions where Adani is expanding, including Kenya and neighbouring Tanzania.

The case began in 2020 when Adani accused Mr. Pennings, a spokesperson for the Galilee Blockade activist group, of orchestrating a campaign to disrupt its Carmichael coal mine operations. The company sought substantial damages, at one point valued at $600 million, and alleged that Pennings had encouraged the leaking of confidential information to harass its contractors. The legal proceedings revealed that Adani had hired private investigators to surveil Pennings and his family, which included photographing his then nine-year-old daughter on her way to school. The court ultimately ordered Pennings not to seek the company's confidential information, but Adani dropped its pursuit of financial damages.

Regional Relevance: Adani’s East African Footprint

While the legal fight unfolded in Australia, its conclusion resonates deeply in East Africa, where the Adani Group is making significant inroads. In May 2024, an Adani-led consortium secured a 30-year concession to operate and manage Container Terminal 2 at the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. This port is a critical gateway for trade for Tanzania and its landlocked neighbours, including Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), stated the move was in line with the company's ambition to become a leading global port operator by 2030 and would “enhance trade volumes and economic cooperation” with East Africa.

The conglomerate has also shown strong interest in Kenya. Although a controversial proposal to manage Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was reportedly cancelled by the Kenyan government in November 2024 following US indictments against the company's founder, Adani had already incorporated a local subsidiary, Airports Infrastructure PLC, for the venture. The group was also pursuing deals for constructing power transmission lines in the country.

A Global Pattern of ‘SLAPPs’

Activists have labelled Adani’s lawsuit against Pennings a classic example of a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP). SLAPPs are a form of litigation used by corporations to intimidate and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defence until they abandon their opposition. According to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, these lawsuits are a growing threat to human rights defenders globally, with a significant number targeting environmental advocates.

The tactics employed in the Pennings case serve as a cautionary tale for Kenyan and East African civil society. Kenya has its own history of intense conflict between corporations, the state, and environmental defenders. The prolonged and ultimately successful community-led campaign against the proposed Lamu coal plant saw activists face harassment, threats, and arrests for their opposition to the project. A 2018 report by Human Rights Watch detailed how authorities allegedly abused and intimidated activists protesting the plant. The victory against the Lamu plant in 2019, when Kenya's National Environmental Tribunal revoked its license, was a landmark moment for environmental justice in the country.

Implications for Corporate Accountability

The resolution of the Adani-Pennings case provides a crucial precedent. For activists in Kenya and across the region, it highlights the potential for sustained, public-facing campaigns to counter immense corporate and legal pressure. For multinational corporations expanding into Africa, it underscores the reputational and financial risks of employing aggressive legal tactics against public dissent.

As international investment in East African infrastructure continues to grow, the dynamic between powerful corporate interests and local communities will remain a critical area to watch. The Australian case demonstrates that while corporations can deploy vast resources to quell opposition, determined public participation can ultimately prevail, reshaping the landscape of corporate accountability far beyond national borders.