Kenya to expand JKIA with Sh375.4bn contract for China Communications Construction

Kenya is pushing ahead with a Sh375.4 billion plan to expand and modernise Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after awarding a major construction contract to China Communications Construction Company through the National Infrastructure Fund, opening a new phase of development for the country’s main aviation hub.

The contract places the Chinese state-owned firm at the centre of one of Kenya’s biggest airport expansion programmes, with construction expected to begin this month.

The government has not yet made an official public announcement confirming the award, even as details of the deal continue to emerge.

Reports attributed to Bloomberg indicate that the arrangement reflects a shift back to large-scale infrastructure partnerships with Chinese contractors.

This comes after the collapse of a planned airport concession involving India’s Adani Group two years ago, which had been expected to take part in the upgrade of the facility.

The development is anchored on JKIA’s long-term master plan running up to 2045, which outlines phased expansion works, future capacity needs and investment priorities meant to reshape airport operations over the coming decades.

The project will be rolled out in two main phases. The first phase focuses on upgrading existing systems, including taxiways, passenger processing areas, access roads and airport digital infrastructure. Once completed, it is expected to raise annual passenger handling capacity to 12 million within about 18 months.

The second phase will involve major expansion works, including construction of a new 4,500-metre parallel runway and a 230,000-square-metre passenger terminal. The terminal will be designed in an X-shaped layout to improve passenger movement and operational efficiency, and is expected to handle an additional 10 million passengers annually.

The plan follows President William Ruto’s earlier statement that construction would begin in June 2026, after the government secured seed funding for the National Infrastructure Fund through the privatisation of Kenya Pipeline Company assets.

However, questions remain over how the remaining funding will be raised, with the total cost of the project estimated at Sh375.4 billion and financing details still not fully clarified.

Chinese contractors continue to maintain a strong presence in Kenya’s infrastructure sector, having delivered or participated in major projects such as the Nairobi Expressway, the Standard Gauge Railway, and ongoing highway upgrades including the Rironi–Mau Summit road.