The government has announced that the planned upgrade of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will be completed within three years, in what is expected to be one of the largest infrastructure projects in Kenya’s aviation sector.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the Ksh155 billion modernisation programme will be carried out in phases and is aimed at transforming JKIA into a modern regional aviation hub capable of handling significantly higher passenger numbers.
In a status update released on June 18, Chirchir outlined three key components of the project: rehabilitation of the airport’s existing airfield, renovation of current passenger terminals, and construction of a brand-new terminal building.
According to the CS, the plan follows years of technical studies and preparations that have now provided the government with a clear roadmap for implementation.
The first phase will focus on upgrading the airport’s airfield infrastructure, including runways and other operational areas. Construction is expected to take about 15 months, followed by a two-year defects monitoring period to ensure the works meet the required standards.
At the same time, the government will undertake renovations of existing passenger terminals to increase JKIA’s capacity from the current 7.5 million passengers annually to about 12 million. The terminal upgrade works are expected to take 18 months.
The most challenging aspect of the project will be constructing a new terminal capable of serving an additional 10 million more passengers annually. The airport will serve both international and domestic travelers and it will be connected to the rest of the airport structures including the taxiways, apron and access roads.
The time required for building the new terminal is estimated at 36 months.
When all phases of the expansion process are completed, JKIA’s annual capacity for handling travelers will reach up to 22 million per year, almost triple its current one.
The expansion of the JKIA is part of the government’s larger plan to turn Nairobi into one of the top aviation hubs in Africa taking into account increasing the number of passengers and their need for modern airports.
President William Ruto recently declared that construction works are going to start in July and be completed by 2029.
According to Chirchir, the total cost of the project is supposed to stay under Ksh154.2 billion. To finance the construction of the terminal, Trade Development Bank and African Finance Corporation will be used as the arrangers.
The update comes amid public debate over reports that the government had allegedly awarded a Ksh375.4 billion contract for the airport expansion to a Chinese firm under the National Infrastructure Fund.
However, Chirchir dismissed the reports, saying the company mentioned in media reports neither participated in the procurement process nor has any involvement in the JKIA project.
He maintained that all bidders were required to disclose their partners and consortium members, adding that the company named in the reports does not appear in any of the submitted bids.
The clarification is expected to ease concerns that had emerged over the procurement process as the government prepares to begin one of the country’s most significant airport expansion projects in decades.