A Lebanese consultancy has secured a key role in the planned Sh154.2 billion expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, with the government handing it the job of overseeing the design and construction process as work on the long-awaited project gathers pace.
Dar Al-Handasah Consultants will be responsible for design review, project management, contract administration and construction supervision, placing the firm at the centre of one of Kenya’s biggest airport infrastructure projects.
The award comes after the government signed an engineering, procurement and construction agreement with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on June 23, setting in motion the redevelopment and expansion of the country’s busiest airport.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the consultancy contract marks the beginning of a critical stage in delivering the project.
“Their expertise will be instrumental in delivering a modern, efficient, safe and sustainable airport that meets global standards,” Chirchir said.
He said the investment will strengthen Kenya’s position as Africa’s premier aviation gateway and regional air cargo hub while boosting trade, tourism, connectivity, economic growth and job creation.
Dar Al-Handasah is an international consulting company that provides engineering, architecture, planning and project management services. The Lebanon-registered firm operates regional headquarters in Beirut, Cairo, London, Pune and Amman.
The airport upgrade is expected to increase JKIA’s annual passenger handling capacity from the current 7.5 million to 22 million within 36 months.
Documents issued by the Ministry of Roads and Transport show the consultancy tender attracted some of the toughest qualification requirements seen in a public infrastructure project in Kenya.
The State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development turned down repeated appeals from interested firms seeking easier qualification conditions. It maintained that only companies with extensive experience supervising major international airport projects would be eligible.
To qualify, firms had to prove they had supervised at least two ongoing or completed international airport construction projects in Sub-Saharan Africa or other developing countries. Each project had to be worth at least $2 billion, equivalent to about Sh258.4 billion.
The ministry also declined requests to recognise experience gained from large projects outside the aviation sector, even where they matched the airport works in size or complexity.
It further rejected proposals to replace construction supervision experience with work involving design consultancy, design review, quality control, cost control or schedule control on airport developments.
During technical evaluation, firms that demonstrated experience in three qualifying airport construction supervision projects stood to earn the highest score of 15 marks, with each eligible project attracting five marks.
Strict qualification standards were also applied to the key professionals proposed for the assignment.
Foreign firms seeking exemptions on local registration rules were unsuccessful after the ministry insisted that all bidders must be legally registered and authorised to conduct business in Kenya before submitting their bids.
They were also required to submit valid Kenya Revenue Authority tax compliance certificates. Requests by joint ventures to complete local registration after winning the contract were rejected.
The ministry further required bidders to provide a Sh30 million bid security from a Kenyan bank or an equivalent guarantee of $232,000 issued by a foreign bank. Tender-securing declarations were not accepted.
International firms also sought more time to prepare their bids and form local partnerships, but the ministry declined the requests and retained the original submission deadline.