A general view shows of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, in Nairobi, Kenya September 10, 2024. Image@ REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
A Chinese construction giant has been handed the contract to overhaul Nairobi’s main international airport, reviving an expansion drive that collapsed nearly two years ago when Kenya’s deal with an Indian conglomerate fell apart in controversy.
Kenya signed a 154.2 billion shilling ($1.2 billion) contract with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on Tuesday for the modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, with Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir overseeing the ceremony. The agreement was formally inked by Aviation and Aerospace Development Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika on behalf of the government, and CRBC General Manager Yu Xiaodong on behalf of the contractor.
The project aims to grow the airport’s capacity from handling about 8.9 million passengers annually to approximately 22.3 million by 2045, and to more than double cargo throughput to 860,400 tonnes. Chirchir said the scope of the works would be wide-ranging. “The project scope includes the construction of a new terminal building and associated support facilities, the modernization and upgrading of existing infrastructure, the improvement of airside and landside operations,” he said.
The government plans to borrow more than 100 billion shillings to finance the expansion, with 70 percent of the total cost expected to come from debt financing. Chirchir said two development finance institutions had been engaged to structure the financing model, with airport-based revenues and the National Infrastructure Fund expected to cover the remaining 30 per cent. Africa’s Trade and Development Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation have been appointed to arrange the financing.
The contract award comes after a bruising false start. The project was previously halted after Kenya cancelled a 2024 agreement with India’s Adani Group following the indictment of its founder in the United States. The government launched fresh procurement on March 3, 2026, through an open international competitive bidding process that closed on May 14, with only two firms, CRBC and fellow Chinese contractor Sinohydro, ultimately submitting bids after more than 40 companies attended a pre-bid conference in April.
The deal has not been without friction. A High Court case seeking to halt the redevelopment remains active, with Justice Gregory Mutai having certified a constitutional petition challenging the programme as urgent. The petition raises questions about transparency, procurement procedures, and public participation. Consumer advocacy group COFEK separately alleged that a joint-venture partner in the contract is linked to Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, a claim Chirchir flatly denied. “We don’t know this gentleman. I saw him for the first time in the media. He is not in any of our documentation, whether as a bidder or partner to any of the bidders,” the minister said.
Chirchir defended the integrity of the process. “The process was conducted in full compliance with applicable procurement laws and regulatory requirements, with all submissions evaluated on technical and financial merit,” he said, adding that the ministry remained “firmly committed to transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to all required standards.”
Notably, the first phase of the redevelopment will not include the construction of a new runway, an omission aviation experts say limits the airport’s long-term competitiveness. The pressure on Nairobi to act is mounting, as rivals move fast: Ethiopia has invested heavily in Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport and Rwanda has developed Kigali International Airport as part of an aggressive push to lure airlines and travellers, threatening Kenya’s long-held status as the region’s premier aviation gateway.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah