NAIROBI, Kenya, June 18 – The planned expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will cost no more than Sh154.2 billion, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has told Parliament, dismissing reports that the project could cost up to Sh375 billion.
Chirchir said no contract has been signed for the project and insisted the government remains committed to the approved budget.
“The government does not anticipate the contract award to exceed Sh154.2 billion, and there is no contract that has been signed,” he said.
The expansion is expected to more than double the airport’s passenger handling capacity from the current 7.5 million passengers annually to 22 million by 2029.
The project includes the upgrade of existing facilities, construction of a new passenger terminal and development of a second runway aimed at easing congestion at Kenya’s main aviation gateway.
According to Chirchir, the redesign will improve passenger movement within the airport while supporting increased traffic volumes without straining existing infrastructure.
The second runway is expected to significantly increase aircraft movements, helping address longstanding capacity constraints.
The latest plan follows the collapse of a proposed public-private partnership with India’s Adani Group, which faced public opposition and legal challenges over transparency concerns and the long-term management of the airport.
Government officials say the current model is intended to avoid the controversies that dogged the Adani proposal while delivering long-awaited upgrades at the country’s busiest airport.
