NAIROBI, Kenya, June 20 – The High Court has certified as urgent a petition challenging the planned expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, setting June 23 for an inter partes hearing.
In directions issued on June 19, Justice Gregory Mutai ordered that the petition filed by the Consumers Federation of Kenya and the accompanying application be served on all respondents and interested parties by email, citing the public importance of the matter.
“The petition and motion concern a matter of great public importance and deserve urgent consideration,” the judge stated.
The court directed parties to file and serve their responses by June 22 ahead of the hearing scheduled for June 23 at 11:30am.
The case pits COFEK against the Kenya Airports Authority and also involves the Office of the Attorney General.
COFEK is seeking to stop the proposed expansion and modernization of JKIA, arguing that the procurement process used to award the contract lacked transparency and may have violated constitutional principles governing public procurement, accountability and openness.
The petition adds to growing scrutiny surrounding the airport upgrade project, which is intended to increase passenger handling capacity and modernize critical aviation infrastructure as Kenya seeks to strengthen Nairobi’s position as a regional aviation hub.
The project has attracted public attention following reports linking IMC Construction Kenya, a firm associated with Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, to the consortium awarded the contract.
The allegations have fuelled debate over the ownership structure of firms involved in the project and whether sufficient due diligence was conducted during the procurement process.
COFEK argues that Kenyans are entitled to full disclosure of all entities participating in the deal, including the financial arrangements and contractual terms, maintaining that transparency is essential in major public infrastructure projects financed through public resources or public-private partnerships.
