The main auditorium of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre was packed for the East Africa Energy and Innovation Summit.
Over eight hundred international delegates, energy ministers from across East Africa, and financial journalists sat under the bright lights of the main stage. Huge digital banners displayed the logo of **Vance Global & Sterling Capital: Powering the Future.**
At the centre podium, Hawthorne Vance stood adjusting his microphone. Beside him, Elena Sterling looked radiant in an emerald silk dress, smiling gracefully for press cameras.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Hawthorne’s voice echoed through the auditorium sound system. "Today marks a historic milestone. Vance Global, in partnership with Sterling Capital, is proud to sign a framework agreement for the Ol Njorowa Geothermal Complex—a project that will bring two hundred megawatts of clean power to the grid, enough to supply more than a million homes."
The audience broke into enthusiastic applause. The Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Energy picked up his signing pen, ready to sign the framework agreement.
"Mr Secretary, the High Court has frozen the trust authorisation on which that framework agreement depends. Signing it now would be legally premature." A clear, calm voice rang out from the back of the auditorium.
The applause instantly died. Eight hundred heads turned towards the main entrance doors.
Walking down the central aisle was Amani Wanjiru.
She walked with measured, unhurried grace, her head held high, her amber necklace catching the glare of television lights. Walking two steps behind her was Kaelen Thorne, carrying a legal dossier.
Hawthorne’s pen froze in mid-air. His face drained of colour, his eyes widening in shock.
"A... Amani?" Hawthorne gasped, his voice picking up on the live microphone and echoing across the hall.
Elena gasped, clutching Hawthorne’s arm, her knuckles turning white. "Impossible... she fell..."
Amani walked up to the stage stairs. Two private security guards stepped forward to block her path, but Kaelen immediately stepped between them, presenting a red-stamped order from the High Court of Kenya.
"Emergency Preservation Order 402," Kaelen announced firmly. "Clear the way."
The guards hesitated, glanced at the judge’s seal, and stepped aside.
Amani walked up onto the main stage, stopping three metres from the podium. She looked at Hawthorne.
"You look as though you’ve seen a ghost, Hawthorne," Amani said.
"Amani... you’re alive..." Hawthorne stuttered, trying to regain his composure in front of the assembled press. "This is an outrage! My wife suffered a traumatic fall two days ago—she is clearly confused—"
"I am neither confused nor dead, Mr Vance," Amani interrupted. She turned to face the Cabinet Secretary. "Mr Secretary, the concession before you cannot lawfully proceed. The surface parcel containing Sector Four is held by the Sun-Gazer Land Trust. Vance Global lacks the Trust’s land-access approval, geological-data licence, and community-benefit agreement."
The auditorium erupted into whispers and camera flashes!
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