The Kenyan government has awarded a KSh375.4 billion ($2.9 billion) contract for the modernization and expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to China Communications Construction Company. The project will be financed through the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), a government-backed vehicle established to fund major infrastructure projects.
The contract marks a major step in the government's plan to transform JKIA into a regional aviation hub following the collapse of the controversial Adani airport deal. President William Ruto had earlier announced that construction would commence in June 2026 after the government secured seed funding from the privatization of the Kenya Pipeline Company.
According to project plans, the expansion will be carried out in phases. Initial works will focus on upgrading existing airport infrastructure, including taxiways, passenger processing systems, access roads, and operational facilities. Later phases will involve constructing a new passenger terminal and a second runway to significantly increase passenger and aircraft handling capacity.
Government projections indicate that passenger traffic at JKIA could grow from approximately 8.9 million passengers in 2025 to over 22 million by 2045, underscoring the need for expanded airport capacity.
The contract marks a major step in the government's plan to transform JKIA into a regional aviation hub following the collapse of the controversial Adani airport deal. President William Ruto had earlier announced that construction would commence in June 2026 after the government secured seed funding from the privatization of the Kenya Pipeline Company.
According to project plans, the expansion will be carried out in phases. Initial works will focus on upgrading existing airport infrastructure, including taxiways, passenger processing systems, access roads, and operational facilities. Later phases will involve constructing a new passenger terminal and a second runway to significantly increase passenger and aircraft handling capacity.
Government projections indicate that passenger traffic at JKIA could grow from approximately 8.9 million passengers in 2025 to over 22 million by 2045, underscoring the need for expanded airport capacity.
