Amyn Mussa

Amyn Mussa is a Partner and the head of Projects & Infrastructure department at ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna (ALN Kenya) and also co-heads the firm’s Real Estate & Construction department. Amyn is generally considered the leading energy and projects lawyer in the country. Amyn is the only lawyer in Kenya ranked in Band 1 in the projects and Energy category by Chambers Global 2022. He specialises in energy, projects, infrastructure, natural and renewable resources, as well as real estate and privatisation.

Under Amyn’s leadership, ALN Kenya has developed a dynamic and market-leading energy and projects practice and is regularly engaged on the most significant power, infrastructure, large scale real estate development and natural resources projects in Kenya. Amyn is involved in advising on, drafting and negotiating construction and O&M contracts; advising on government contract work, including drafting and negotiating concession agreements, PPAs and offtake agreements; structuring debt financing for clients; structuring project equity financing, including all operative agreements such as share purchase agreements, shareholder agreements and share subscription agreements; structuring unique partial risk guarantees and developing political risk guarantee products for clients (covering a variety of risks, including non-payment, termination compensation, associated infrastructure and fuel risk) with counter parties such as MIGA, IDA, ATI, ADF and Government of Kenya; and providing project-related advice on land acquisitions and all regulatory matters; amongst other work. He further advices on complex real estate transactions including large land disposals and acquisitions, due diligence, construction and development, funding/equity arrangements, real estate joint ventures, restructurings, land use, environmental, regulatory approvals and representation of clients in negotiations with local authorities.

Amyn has led training seminars on PPPs, project finance, energy and infrastructure projects for international developers, financiers and government officials in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Kenya. Amyn was also one of the international experts who provided advice on a PPA Handbook produced by the USA’s Commercial Law Development Program and USAID as part of President Obama’s Power Africa Initiative which aims to increase Africa’s access to electrical power.

Amyn is currently developing a cross border projects practice as evidenced by acting for Berkeley Energy as lead counsel in connection with its proposed acquisition of seven power generation and development assets from Tozzi Renewable Energy in Madagascar. With over 20 years of experience, Amyn has been described as “one of the leading lawyers in energy work in Kenya”.

Amyn is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. He holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.), from the University of Houston School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Major-Finance) from the University of Houston.

• Law Society of Kenya 

1999: Post graduate Diploma in Law, Kenya School of Law

1995: Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.), University of Houston School of Law, USA

1991: Bachelor of Business Administration (Major-Finance), University of Houston, USA

2000 – Date: Partner, Anjarwalla & Khanna, Nairobi

1998 – 2000: Legal Officer, Unicof Group of Companies

1996 – 1997: Legal Assistant, Anjarwalla Abdulhusein & Co. Advocates

1994: Legal Intern, Roberts, Markel, Folger & Powers LLP, Texas, USA

• Amyn is ranked by Band 1 Chambers Global (2012 – 2022) in the Projects and Energy category. He is the only Kenyan Lawyer ranked as such.
• Amyn has been listed in the ‘hall of fame’ for both privatisation and projects and the real estate & construction categories by legal 500 (2019 – 2022).
• Amyn has been recognised as ‘Highly regarded’ in the areas of Banking, Energy and Infrastructure, M&A, Project Development and Project Finance by IFLR1000 (2014 – 2022).
• Chambers Global 2020 noted that Amyn is a leading light in energy, with sources unanimously distinguishing him as “one of the most experienced power lawyers this side of Africa.”
• Amyn was voted one of the best Corporate Lawyers in Kenya by Best Lawyers International in 2015, the oldest and most respected worldwide legal peer review guide.

“He is pragmatic and offers top-notch practical legal advice. He is adept at finding solutions and has helped us navigate our way around some of our most complex legal and lease structuring issues.” “He is very practical and has tons of experience.” – Chambers Global 2022

Amyn Mussa has the ability to navigate through complex legal, commercial, practical and tax aspects of energy and large infrastructure projects and provide a solution that balances commercial interests of all parties involved in a transaction.” – Lega l500 2022

“Amyn is a pre-eminent figure in the Kenyan energy space who” “knows the power sector extremely well and has a very strong network within both the public and private sectors”. [Amyn is] “unmatched in his knowledge of renewable technologies”. – Chambers Global 2021

“He fields an exceptional knowledge of thermal, solar and wind technologies, and as an inimitable negotiator remains a top-level choice for PPP and PPA negotiations. Market commentators applaud his market awareness and strength in guiding projects from inception to close”. – Chambers Global 2020

“Amyn is without a doubt the best lawyer in the Kenyan power sector” and “on the energy side, there’s no one in the local market who compares to Amyn”. – Chamber Global 2019.

“Amyn Mussa is ‘top notch’, has ‘long-standing experience with Kenyan IPPs’ and ‘is well-regarded by the Kenyan authorities’. – Legal 500 2019.

“Amyn Mussa is a leading figure in the Kenyan project finance market, where he is well versed in handling matters across the energy and infrastructure sectors.” – Who’s Who Legal 2019.

“Amyn is praised for his energy and projects expertise.” Chambers Global 2015.

‘’Amyn is highly appreciated for his energy and natural resources expertise, with substantial experience in both project finance and commercial deals.” – Chambers Global 2014.

‘’Amyn Mussa leads much of the firm’s work in the burgeoning energy sector, and is described as ‘one of the leading guys in energy work in Kenya’.” – Chambers Global 2013.

Projects & Infrastructure

• Acting for Kenya Airways, the flag carrier and national airline of Kenya, in connection with the proposed consolidation of the entire Kenyan aviation sector, including drafting and negotiating all the proposed legislation including a new Aviation Bill, amending numerous other legislation and transaction documents, and advising on legal and regulatory issues around implementation of the project.Advising Kenya Airways, the flag carrier and national airline of Kenya, in connection with the creation of a government owned entity which will hold and govern all aspects of the Kenyan aviation sector, including management and operations of Kenya Airways, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the Kenya Airports Authority and the operation and management of 53 smaller airports and airstrips across Kenya.
• Acting for the sponsors of the 310MW Turkana Wind Power Project (the largest power generation project in Kenya, designed to provide at least 30% of the country’s power demand) including, structuring and negotiating the equity financing with Alywych, Norfund, FinnFund, IFU and Vestas and a bankable 20-year power purchase agreement on a take or pay basis with Kenya Power and Lighting Co. (KPLC); negotiating a credit enhancement package with KPLC, GoK, and the ADF; advising on the debt financing with AFDB, Standard Bank of South Africa, NEDBANK, EIB, DEG, Proparco, Eksport Kredit Funden, PTA Bank, and EADB; reviewing and negotiating various engineering, procurement and supply agreements (EPC) with Vestas, Siemens, Civicon and Seco; as well as advising on land acquisitions and all regulatory matters, including interface with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Kenya Revenue Authority, Competition Authority and Attorney General’s office. This transaction was awarded the African Renewables Deal of the Year 2014 by both Project Finance International (PFI) and IJGlobal Europe & Africa Awards.
• Acting as legal consultants to City-Yuwa Partners, a Japanese law firm, who have been instructed by Crown Agents, an international development company, to provide legal advisory services in respect of the development, implementation and installation of a medical and hazardous waste processing plant in Nairobi with the project being financed through a government-to-government grant made available by the Government of Japan to the Government of Kenya, including assisting with the preparation of pre-feasibility reports and inception reports; a legal and regulatory due diligence in respect of the proposed project; providing structuring and tax advice; and assisting in the process of selecting the preferred bidder, including preparing the tender documents and all applicable project contracts (such as the construction and O&M agreements).
• Acting for the sponsor, Triumph Power Generating Company, in connection with the development and financing of an 81MW thermal power plant in Athi River, Kenya including drafting and negotiating a turnkey engineering procurement and construction contract with XJ International Engineering Corporation of the People’s Republic of China (a wholly owned subsidiary of the China State Grid Corporation involved in domestic & international power projects in hydro, coal-fired and oil-fired power generation, transmission and distribution (“XJ”)); drafting and negotiating: a long term operations and maintenance agreement between the project company and XJ, a bankable 20 year power purchase agreement between the project company and KPLC, and a fuel supply agreement; structuring a credit enhancement package for the project company including, drafting and negotiating a PRG Support Agreement and Project Agreement with KPLC, the GoK and the International Development Association in relation to the issuance of an irrevocable on-demand letter of credit by JP Morgan to mitigate against any off-taker payment default as well as the related GoK political risk letter of support; providing legal advice with respect to all debt financing arrangements including: drafting and negotiating a USD 102Million loan agreement to finance the construction and operation of the power plant with The Standard Bank of South Africa and The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (as mandated lead arrangers and lenders) and negotiating all ancillary agreements including, a debenture and a charge over land as well as other financing contracts such as the sponsor subscription deed, accounts agreement, and hedging agreement.
• Advising Bechtel, one of the world’s largest infrastructure and construction companies, in connection with the construction of the Nairobi – Mombasa Expressway, including advising on all legal and regulatory aspects of the project, such as procurement, roads development, construction law, labour law, financing and fund flow structures, choice of law and dispute resolution clauses, and environmental liability issues.
• Acting for the Government of Kenya on the first ever coal concession (Blocks C and D, Mui Basin) to be granted by the Government to Fenxi Mining (China) on a public private partnership basis negotiated and drafted a Benefit Sharing Agreement and Investor Agreement which was signed in December 2013.
• Acting for Elicio NV and International Finance Corporation among others, the sponsors of a 90MW wind powered generation farm in Mpeketoni, Lamu on the coast of Kenya, owned by Electrawinds, including reviewing and negotiating the power purchase agreement on a take or pay basis with the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and advising on various equity, land, management and regulatory matters.
• Advising responsAbility Investments, one of the world’s leading independent asset managers specializing in emerging market investments, in connection with enforceability in Kenya of foreign law governed promissory notes issued by a Kenyan obligor, including reviewing template promissory notes prepared under Luxembourg and Switzerland law, identifying Kenyan law issues and making the necessary amendments, and advising on the capacity of the Kenyan obligors to issue the promissory notes and the enforceability of the promissory notes in Kenya.
• Acting for The East Africa Marine System (TEAMS) and Econet Wireless Kenya (now known as Essar Telecom Kenya), part of the Essar Group of India, in relation to the Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Government of Kenya and a consortium of East African national and international telecoms service providers and Etisalat of UAE undertaking the construction and operation of a 5000 km underwater fibre optic cable connecting Kenya to Fujairah, UAE. A&K’s role included advising on corporate structuring, telecommunications, privatisation and procurement regulation and drafting, reviewing subscription, loan and shareholding agreements as well as reviewing capacity purchase agreements.
• Acting for Tullow Oil, a multinational oil and gas exploration company, in connection with the development of a pipeline in Kenya that will carry oil discovered as a result of drilling in the northern part of Kenya to a port in Mombasa and Lamu and export internationally, including carrying out work on the environmental health, safety and social aspects of the pipeline project and carry out a regulatory review of all applicable laws in Kenya related to the pipeline project and well as the licences, permits and consents required under Kenyan legislation for the pipeline project.

Real Estate

• Acting for EH Venture Capital Rwanda in connection with the development of a financial centre in Kigali Rwanda, including advising on the legal and tax structuring options available to the parties and drafting and negotiating the investment agreement with the Government of Rwanda, relevant construction contracts, consultancy agreements and lease agreements, the hotel management and the hotel brand agreements.
• Acting for AVIC International Real Estate Kenya, a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, a Chinese state-owned aerospace and defence company, in connection with its development of a mixed-use state-of-the-art development comprising of one of tallest office blocks in Kenya, a modern retail and commercial centre, a five star hotel and four residential apartment blocks consisting of an aggregate of 504 high end apartments.
• Acting for Paramount Chief Estate in connection with its greenfield development of a medium-cost housing estate in the Kenyan suburb of Kiambu comprising of 345 villas in Phase 1, and 403 maisonettes in Phase 2, known as Edenville.
• Acting for Mi Vida Thika Road, a newly established residential home developer, in connection with the development of a proposed new USD 120 million residential project, comprising of approximately 624 middle class apartments.
• Acting for Actis, a leading private equity investor in emerging markets, and Improvon Group, one of Africa’s most established logistics and warehouse property specialists, in connection with the development of an A-Grade product-specific warehouse and logistics park, on a 103-acre piece of land along Nairobi’s Eastern Bypass.
• Acting for Soma Properties, the developers of Sarit Centre, Nairobi’s iconic and busiest shopping mall, located in Westlands with a wide range of shops, restaurants amenities and commercial space, in connection with their expansion of the mall to include more retail and commercial space.
• Representing Actis in connection with its Garden City development, a USD 250 million integrated mixed-use property that will include a 500,000 square feet retail mall, offices, hotel, 600 residential units, businesses and a recreational area. A&K’s role includes preparing and negotiating all land contracts and advising on the legal and financial structuring, management structure to ensure effective integration in view of the mixed-use nature of the project and construction contract with Sinohydro. In addition, A&K is acting for Actis in relation to the construction and purchase of a solar facility to power the Garden City development including negotiation the power purchase agreement.