JKIA (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) expansion and modernization construction works projected to cost some KSh 272 billion are set to begin this month after the completion of the procurement process. The JKIA project, which is part of a 20-year master plan, will be the first to be financed under the National Infrastructure Fund Act.
President William Ruto previously announced that Ksh20 billion from the Kenya Pipeline IPO would help fund the development.
JKIA expansion project details
The expansion includes a new 4,500-metre parallel runway expected by 2029 and an X-shaped passenger terminal.
Once complete, the JKIA project will increase passenger capacity by up to 15 million annually and boost aircraft movements from 14 to 63 per hour. Details of the contractor awarded the project are still scanty.
The Kenyan government has reopened bidding for the modernization of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi under a design-and-build procurement model, after cancelling an earlier proposal involving India’s Adani Group.
The new tender was issued March 3 by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and covers the construction of a new airport facility as well as upgrades to existing infrastructure at the country’s main international gateway.
Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Davis Chirchir said the government strongly supports the project, describing it as “a bold and strategic step toward transforming JKIA into a modern, world-class aviation hub.”
The Kenya Airports Authority said, “As KAA, we are proud to take this significant step in advancing Kenya’s aviation infrastructure. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to sustainable growth, operational excellence, and positioning JKIA as a leading gateway in Africa and beyond.”
In November 2024, the Kenyan government cancelled a proposed $1.85 billion expansion deal with India’s Adani Group, which had sought to add a second runway and upgrade the passenger terminal in exchange for a 30-year lease.
That deal was scrapped after legal challenges, sustained public pressure, and the indictment of the group’s founder, Gautam Adani, in the U.S. on an alleged bribery scheme.
Kenya’s government has previously said that JKIA is operating beyond its intended capacity.
JKIA handled roughly 9 million passengers in 2025, exceeding its original design capacity of 7.5 million passengers annually. Passenger traffic is projected to surpass 22 million by 2045, highlighting the need for major infrastructure upgrades to accommodate future demand.
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