Kenya has officially awarded a KES 375 billion (which is approximately USD 2.9 billion) contract to China Communications Construction Company to modernize and expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after the collapse of the previous Adani-led deal.
This landmark deal marks a decisive change in Kenya’s approach to major infrastructure projects. The contract, part of a sweeping 20-year master plan running to 2045, shifts JKIA’s development back into the hands of Chinese state-owned firms after India’s Adani consortium pulled out in 2024 amid labour unrest, public protest, and legal hurdles.
Construction is scheduled to kick off in June 2026, following the release of initial seed funding from Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) with proceeds from the Kenya Pipeline Company’s privatization.
Additional financing will come via commercial loans secured against future passenger service charges. The expansion is visioned to take about 2 years and the construction be in two phases:
Phase I : upgrades to taxiways, landside access roads, terminal processing systems, and digital infrastructure, aiming to boost capacity from 7.5 million to 12 million passengers annually.
Phase II: construction of a new parallel 4,500 m runway and a 230,000 m² terminal, increasing capacity to 22 million passengers per year.Discover more
This project is considered Kenya’s largest under the NIF. It embraces Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) models, ensuring operational control remains with the Kenyan government, contrasting sharply with the previously scrapped 30-year concession proposed by Adani.
Currently, JKIA is dealing with acute congestion issues, handling nearly 9 million passengers in 2025, well above its designed capacity of 7.5 million.
The upgrades are expected to relieve these pressures, modernize cargo facilities, and introduce improved air-traffic management and digital systems.
Speaking during the assent of the National Infrastructure Fund Bill at State House, President William Ruto has described the airport expansion as a “flagship project” under the NIF and a cornerstone of his infrastructure-led economic transformation blueprint.
The JKIA upgrade is now moving forward under a new, publicly driven framework.
As Kenya charts its path to becoming East Africa’s premier aviation hub, this project will be keenly watched for its impact on tourism, trade, and national connectivity.
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