The government has moved to distance itself from controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo amid mounting debate over the planned upgrade of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir on Thursday said Chivayo has no role in the project and dismissed reports linking him to the deal.
Chirchir also pushed back against claims that the airport upgrade is worth Sh375 billion, saying figures circulating online and in sections of the media do not reflect the actual scope or value of the project.
The clarification comes as scrutiny intensifies over plans to modernise Kenya’s busiest airport, a project the government has repeatedly defended as critical to boosting passenger capacity and improving the country’s position as a regional aviation hub.
Questions had emerged after reports linked Chivayo to the project, triggering concerns over procurement processes and the identity of firms expected to participate in the airport’s expansion.
But Chirchir maintained that the businessman is not involved and urged Kenyans to rely on official information regarding the project.
The CS has previously argued that JKIA’s infrastructure is under pressure due to growing passenger numbers and increasing demand for cargo services, necessitating major upgrades to keep pace with regional and global competition.
The latest statement is expected to fuel further debate over the project, which has attracted significant public interest because of its scale, cost implications and strategic importance to the country’s economy.
With the government now firmly denying Chivayo’s involvement, attention is likely to shift to the finer details of the upgrade plan, including financing arrangements, procurement procedures and the actual cost of the project.
