JKIA Modernization, Expansion Set To Begin Next Month – Ruto
President William Ruto has announced that building on a new airport will begin next month, a day after the government awarded a Chinese company a Ksh375 billion contract to modernize and expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
According to the President, cash for the project is already available, although the administration has not disclosed the source of the funds.
“We tried building a new airport, and people revolted,” Ruto told leaders from Marsabit County during a meeting at State House, Nairobi, on Friday, June 12.
“The current airport has a canvas on the tarmac, and we are getting a lot of shame.”
“I want to assure you that the construction of a new airport will begin in July. And we have the money for the construction,” he added.
“Tuko na pesa ya kujenga hii airport JKIA, mwezi wa saba tunaanza ujenzi.” ~ Ruto pic.twitter.com/7VoeTsKzX2— Lightcast TV Kenya (@Lightcasttvke) June 12, 2026
The statement came a day after it was revealed that the government had granted state-owned China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) a contract for the engineering, procurement, and construction of a modernized JKIA.
The project will be executed through China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the regional subsidiary of CCCC that previously delivered the Standard Gauge Railway and the Nairobi Expressway.
The contract, valued at approximately Ksh375.4 billion ($2.9 billion), is expected to transform JKIA into a larger aviation hub capable of handling significantly higher passenger traffic over the coming decades.
According to Kenya Airports Authority data, JKIA handled approximately 8.93 million passengers in 2025, surpassing its original design capacity of about 7.5 million passengers annually.
Under the government’s updated aviation master plan, passenger numbers are projected to exceed 13 million annually by 2030 before rising further to 22.31 million by 2045.
President Ruto announces that the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will be the first project financed under the newly signed National Infrastructure Fund Act.
KES 15–20B from the KES 106.3B Kenya Pipeline IPO proceeds (≈14–19% of proceeds) will be… pic.twitter.com/THgxklJtmR— Mwango Capital (@MwangoCapital) March 9, 2026
A key feature of the expansion is the construction of a 230,000-square-metre passenger terminal designed to accommodate an additional 10 million travellers annually while digitising check-in, immigration and security systems.
The project also includes the construction of a new 4,500-metre parallel runway, upgraded taxiways and additional aircraft parking stands.
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Once completed, the improvements are expected to increase airfield capacity from 14 aircraft movements per hour to 63.
Beyond aviation infrastructure, the master plan incorporates an “Airport City” development featuring a Special Economic Zone, logistics parks, office complexes and transit hotels aimed at transforming JKIA into a regional commercial and logistics hub.
Government projections indicate the first phase of construction will provide capacity for up to 12 million passengers within 18 months, while the broader modernisation programme will be implemented under a 20-year master plan running through 2045.
The expansion aligns with the government’s broader ambition to position Nairobi as a leading aviation gateway in Africa.
In December, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said Kenya was targeting a sharp increase in passenger and visitor traffic through JKIA as part of its long-term transport and tourism strategy.
JKIA Modernization, Expansion Set To Begin Next Month – Ruto
