A Chinese state-backed construction company has secured a Sh375 billion ($2.9 billion) contract to modernise and expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), reviving plans to upgrade Kenya’s main aviation hub after the collapse of a controversial deal with India’s Adani Group.
According to Bloomberg, China Communications Construction Co. (CCCC) will undertake key expansion works at the airport, including projects aimed at easing congestion, increasing passenger handling capacity and strengthening Nairobi’s position as East Africa’s leading aviation gateway.
The award comes nearly two years after a proposed public-private partnership with Adani Group collapsed amid legal challenges, labour unrest and mounting public opposition, forcing the government to seek alternative options for the long-awaited airport upgrade.
JKIA is Kenya’s busiest airport and a critical gateway for regional trade, tourism and logistics, connecting East and Central Africa to global markets. However, the facility has faced growing pressure from rising passenger and cargo traffic while operating with aging infrastructure.
The expansion project is expected to address longstanding capacity constraints and support Kenya’s ambitions to strengthen its position as a regional transport and business hub.
The latest contract further cements China’s role in Kenya’s infrastructure development, with Chinese firms having played a major role in the construction of roads, railways, ports and energy projects across the country over the past decade.
Efforts to modernise JKIA gained urgency after the government terminated a proposed Sh238 billion agreement with Adani Group. The deal had included plans for the construction of a new passenger terminal and a second runway under a long-term operating concession arrangement.
However, the proposal attracted sustained criticism from labour unions, civil society organisations and opposition leaders, who raised concerns over transparency, value for money and potential job losses.
The cancellation left uncertainty over how the government would finance and implement the airport’s expansion programme.
Last year, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the government was exploring alternative financing arrangements, including support from international development lenders, while considering new procurement models to facilitate the project.
“We are engaging development partners and financiers to ensure the expansion of JKIA proceeds without disruption,” Chirchir said at the time.
“JKIA is a strategic national asset, and its modernization remains a priority for the government,” he added.
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