The new JKIA: what the KSh154 billion upgrade will build, and when
Work has started on a new passenger terminal and upgrades at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Here is what is being built, who is building it, how it is paid for, and the questions still being asked.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) opened in 1958 and is Kenya's main international gateway. It now carries more people than it was designed for. In 2026, after years of false starts, construction of a new passenger terminal and upgrades finally began.
Why JKIA needs it
- Too many passengers. The airport is designed for about 7.5 million passengers a year, but handled just under 9 million last year.
- One runway. JKIA relies on a single 4km runway with limited taxiways and aircraft parking.
- Competition. Ethiopia is building a mega-airport for more than 100 million passengers, and Rwanda's new Bugesera airport is designed for up to 14 million.
The deal at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contract signed | 23 June 2026 |
| Contractor | China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), part of China Communications Construction Company |
| Type | Design and build: one firm designs and constructs |
| Value | KSh154.2 billion |
| Works began | The week of 3 July 2026, according to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki |
| Duration | About three years (36 months), in phases |
| Passenger capacity | From 7.5 million to about 22 million a year |
| Air traffic | From 25 to 31 arriving aircraft per hour |
What is being built
- A new passenger terminal with support facilities.
- Upgrades to the existing terminals and airfield, including faster taxiways and more aircraft parking to ease congestion.
- Better airside and landside operations, from aircraft movement to how passengers arrive, check in and collect bags.
The government's master plan runs to 2045, when JKIA is expected to handle about 23 million passengers a year. Earlier plans also included a second runway and a rail link from Syokimau station.
How it is being paid for
Reports say the State will borrow up to KSh100 billion and put in KSh50 billion of its own money, through the new National Infrastructure Fund. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi told the Senate that the model was stress-tested and "is not going to put any strain on our sovereign debt".
The questions still being asked
- Transparency. The Law Society of Kenya has demanded that the contract terms be published, and senators have asked for the designs, bidding documents and financial models.
- The Adani history. An earlier plan with India's Adani Group was cancelled in 2024 after the group's founder was indicted in the United States.
- Land. A proposal to take land from Nairobi National Park has raised concern. Mbadi said any such move needs public participation, an environmental assessment and Parliament's approval.
What it means for travellers
Expect construction around the airport for the next few years and leave extra time. If it is delivered on schedule, around 2029 travellers should see shorter queues, more space and more direct flights. See also our Mombasa Road explainer for the road to the airport.
Sources
- Government signs contract for JKIA modernization, State Department for Transport
- Ksh154 billion JKIA expansion deal signed, works set to begin, Nairobi Wire (25 Jun 2026)
- Ksh154 billion JKIA upgrade begins, Kindiki confirms, Kenyans.co.ke (3 Jul 2026)
- CS Mbadi sets record straight on JKIA expansion cost, Streamline Feed (18 Jun 2026)
- Inside ambitious government plan to modernise JKIA, Citizen Digital (5 Mar 2026)
