The Kenyan government is preparing to break ground on the long-awaited expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) before the end of 2025, signaling a fresh chapter in the airport’s development. This comes 229 days after President William Ruto cancelled the controversial expansion deal with Indian-based Adani Group, citing lack of transparency and accountability.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir confirmed that plans are well underway and that construction is scheduled to commence within the calendar year. “We are working round the clock on a very tight timeline to ensure we break ground before the year ends,” he stated, referencing the critical state of JKIA’s facilities, which still include a temporary terminal put up after a fire incident years ago.
President Ruto’s decision in November 2024 to cancel the Adani deal followed revelations from investigative agencies and partner countries about questionable clauses in the contract. Since then, the Ministry of Transport has been exploring alternative funding models, engaging institutions such as the European Investment Bank, French Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and China Exim Bank to secure support for the capital-intensive project.
The government plans to leverage JKIA’s financial strength highlighted by strong revenue and a solid asset base to fund the redevelopment. In 2024, the airport handled 8.75 million passengers, surpassing its 7.5 million capacity by 6.6 per cent.
However, JKIA still faces significant infrastructure challenges, including ageing facilities and a single runway, which could delay expansion if not addressed swiftly.
The government sees the project as a strategic move to attract more international airlines and strengthen Kenya’s aviation competitiveness. “Restricting airline frequencies would hurt our tourism and export sectors,” Chirchir warned, noting Kenya’s prominent role as one of the world’s top four flower exporters.
Principal Secretary for Aviation and Aerospace Development Terry Mbaika challenged the national carrier to revamp its business model and pursue partnerships to capitalize on JKIA’s strategic location.
With momentum building and financial negotiations underway, Kenya is poised to transform JKIA into a modern regional hubif the project gets off the ground on time.
