The long-awaited modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has officially begun, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has confirmed, marking the start of a KSh154.2 billion project expected to transform Kenya’s busiest airport over the next three years.
Kindiki announced that construction commenced this week following a meeting on Friday with officials from the State Department of Roads led by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, where they reviewed the project’s master plan and implementation progress.
“Modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has commenced this week, at a cost of 155 billion shillings,” Kindiki said in a statement.
According to the Deputy President, the meeting provided an update on the scope of the project, key milestones expected during implementation and the progress of other infrastructure projects currently underway across the country’s 47 counties.
The confirmation comes just days after President William Ruto announced that works on the airport expansion would begin in July.
Project to Triple JKIA Passenger Capacity
The upgrade of the airport saw a big move in the right direction with the signing of the design-build contract by the government and CRBC on June 23.
The ambitious project will be rolled out in phases, and it is expected to be completed within three years’ time.
On completion, the development will see the development of a new passenger terminal in addition to the modernization of the existing terminal and the airfield facilities.
It will increase the airport’s capacity to handle up to 22 million passengers per year, up from the current 7.5 million.
The government insists that the project will play a crucial role in establishing Nairobi as a major regional aviation center.
Petition to Court to Stop Redevelopment
While work on the project is underway, the project faces legal challenges as well.
The project is currently in a constitutional petition brought before the High Court by Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) and wants the project stopped due to the lack of transparency.
The case has been declared as an urgent one by the High Court.
In its petition, COFEK has questioned the procurement process, the financing structure and the consortium involved in the redevelopment. The lobby group also raised concerns over reported links between the project and a company associated with Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
COFEK is seeking conservatory orders to stop any further implementation of the airport redevelopment until the court determines the case.
In addition, the organization has requested the court to secure all documents pertaining to the construction, such as contracts, financing agreements, approvals, among others, on the grounds that no further commitments on contract or finance will be made prior to hearing and determination of the case.
Notwithstanding the pending litigation process, the government has indicated its intentions to push for completion of the construction project because it is one of the biggest infrastructural projects in Kenya intended to support future development in aviation and trade.
