The government has defended the proposed modernization and expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), saying the project is critical to maintaining Kenya’s position as East Africa’s leading aviation hub and will significantly increase the airport’s passenger handling capacity from the current 7.5 million passengers annually to 22 million.
In a status report released by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, the government said it remains committed to transforming JKIA into a world-class aviation hub capable of supporting economic growth, tourism, trade and regional connectivity for decades to come.
“The Government of Kenya remains firmly committed to transforming Jomo Kenyatta International Airport into a world-class aviation hub that will support our country’s economic growth, tourism, trade and regional connectivity for decades to come,” Chirchir said.
The government noted that much of JKIA’s core infrastructure was developed decades ago and has undergone only incremental improvements despite sustained growth in passenger numbers, aircraft movements and cargo volumes.
“JKIA has served the nation well for many years. However, much of its core infrastructure was developed decades ago and has since undergone only incremental improvements despite sustained growth in passenger numbers, aircraft movements and cargo volumes,” Chirchir said.
According to the report, the airport is increasingly operating under capacity constraints and requires significant expansion to meet future demand while maintaining international standards of safety, operational efficiency and passenger service.
The government argued that Kenya must keep pace with regional competitors that are investing heavily in modern airport infrastructure.
“Countries across the region are making significant investments in modern airport infrastructure. To maintain Kenya’s position as the leading aviation hub in East Africa, we must similarly invest in facilities that are capable of accommodating forecast passenger growth, improving operational efficiency, enhancing passenger experience, strengthening safety and security, and supporting increased cargo and commercial activities,” he said.
The ministry described the project as “a strategic national investment” that will secure Kenya’s competitiveness for generations.
Master plan completed
The government commissioned the preparation of the JKIA Master Plan and Feasibility Study, which was undertaken by what it described as a globally recognized engineering, planning and project management consultancy with extensive expertise in airport planning and aviation infrastructure.
The study was developed over one year through a comprehensive technical planning process and stakeholder consultations.
According to the ministry, the study established the long-term vision and phased development strategy for JKIA while identifying the optimal expansion programme required to meet Kenya’s aviation needs for decades.
Following completion of the master plan and feasibility study, the government developed a comprehensive concept design and prepared tender documents for the procurement of a Design and Build Contractor.
The procurement package covers three key areas including improvement of the existing airfield, improvement and renovation of existing terminals and development of a new terminal building and associated support facilities.
The ministry said the work transformed the project from a long-term vision into an implementable programme and provided a technically robust basis for procurement.
Stakeholder engagement
The government said it has undertaken extensive public engagement throughout the planning and procurement process.
Among the consultations conducted were engagement with Kenya Airports Authority staff on November 25, 2025, presentation of the master plan to the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) on February 23, 2026, stakeholders’ master plan presentation on February 26, 2026.
KSh154.2 billion project
The State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development issued the Request for Proposals for the Design and Build Contractor on March 3, 2026.
The bidding process closed on May 14, 2026 and bids were opened in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.
The ministry said the procurement was conducted through an Open International Competitive Bidding process to provide equal opportunity to qualified local and international firms.
“The Government wishes to assure the public that every stage of this procurement has been undertaken fairly, transparently and in strict compliance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and all applicable procurement regulations,” the statement said.
The government said it does not anticipate the contract award exceeding KSh154.2 billion.
Officials emphasized that the project extends beyond construction of a new passenger terminal and includes rehabilitation of the existing airfield and terminals, development of new terminal facilities, aircraft aprons, taxiways, utility networks, access roads, aviation systems, operational support facilities and associated infrastructure.
The expansion will increase the capacity of the existing terminal from 7.5 million passengers annually to 12 million passengers annually, while a new terminal will handle an additional 10 million passengers annually.
“This will increase the capacity of JKIA from the current 7.5 million passengers per year to 22 million,” the ministry said.
The government further argued that comparisons with similar airport projects in the region show the anticipated costs are competitive.
“Benchmarking against comparable airport developments within the region indicates that the anticipated construction cost represents a competitive and reasonable investment for a project of this scale, complexity and strategic importance,” the ministry said.
Financing structure
On financing, the government disclosed that it has engaged the Trade Development Bank (TDB) and the African Finance Corporation (AFC) as lead arrangers for the project.
The institutions are expected to structure financing using airport-generated revenue streams and mobilize funding from development finance institutions and commercial banks.
“The project is intended to be funded through leveraging of airport-based revenue streams. The arrangers will crowd in Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) and Commercial banks,” the ministry said.
Government dismisses media claims
The ministry also pushed back against reports carried by sections of the media, particularly The Standard newspaper, regarding alleged involvement of a company in the procurement process.
“The Government has taken note with serious concern reports appearing in sections of the media, particularly in the Standard newspaper,” the statement said.
It clarified that the company referenced in the reports neither participated in the bidding process nor has any involvement with the project.
“We wish to clarify that the company referred to in those reports did not participate in this procurement process as a bidder and has no role, involvement or association whatsoever with this project,” the ministry said.
The government added that all bidders were required to submit legally binding disclosures of all parties involved in joint ventures and that the entity named in the reports was not part of any bid submission.
“We therefore urge the public to rely on official Government communication and verified information. In the same spirit we further caution the media against publishing such unverified information and invite them to retract their false reporting,” the ministry said.
Project components
The modernization programme consists of three major components.
The first involves rehabilitation and resurfacing of the existing airfield and is expected to take 15 months of construction followed by a 24-month defects notification period.
The second covers improvement and renovation of existing terminals to increase operational capacity from 7.5 million passengers annually to 12 million passengers annually, with construction expected to take 18 months followed by a 24-month defects notification period.
The third component entails development of a new passenger terminal capable of handling 10 million passengers annually. The facility will accommodate both domestic and international travelers and has been strategically positioned to integrate with existing and future taxiways, aprons and ground access systems.
Construction of the new terminal and associated support facilities is expected to take approximately 36 months, followed by a 24-month defects notification period.
“The Government remains fully committed to delivering this landmark project in a transparent, competitive and accountable manner, ensuring value for public investment while positioning Kenya to remain the premier aviation hub of East Africa for generations to come,” Chirchir said.
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