By ALFRED MATAZA, July 15, 2026
The government has appointed internationally renowned engineering consultancy Dar Al-Handasah Consultants to provide engineering supervision and project management services for the KSh154.2 billion modernization and expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), marking another major milestone in Kenya’s largest aviation infrastructure project.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir presided over the signing of the engineering consultancy agreement on Wednesday, saying the appointment reinforces the government’s commitment to delivering a world-class airport that meets international safety, engineering and operational standards.
Dar Al-Handasah, a global engineering and planning firm founded in Lebanon with decades of experience in airport development across Africa, the Middle East and Europe, will be responsible for reviewing engineering designs, supervising construction works, monitoring project implementation, and ensuring strict compliance with international aviation regulations throughout the project lifecycle.
The consultant will also oversee quality assurance, environmental and social safeguards, contract administration, construction scheduling, cost monitoring, risk management and certification of completed works before they are commissioned.
The actual construction works are being undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), which secured the multi-billion-shilling design-and-build contract in June 2026 following an international procurement process.
The modernization programme is expected to be completed within 36 months and aims to transform JKIA into one of Africa’s leading aviation hubs capable of supporting the country’s growing passenger, cargo and transit traffic.
The project includes construction of a new international passenger terminal equipped with modern passenger processing technology, expansion of aircraft parking aprons, rehabilitation and extension of taxiways, improvement of airfield lighting systems, installation of advanced baggage handling facilities, upgraded security screening infrastructure, and modernization of immigration and customs processing areas.
Additional works will involve upgrading airport utilities, expanding vehicle parking facilities, improving access roads, strengthening emergency response systems, enhancing cargo handling capacity, and incorporating energy-efficient technologies to support sustainable airport operations.
Once completed, JKIA’s annual passenger handling capacity is projected to increase from approximately 7.5 million to 22 million passengers, while taxiway improvements are expected to increase aircraft movement capacity to about 31 aircraft per hour, significantly reducing congestion during peak travel periods.
Government officials say the investment is expected to strengthen Kenya’s position as East Africa’s leading aviation hub, boost tourism, facilitate international trade, attract investment, and create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities during both construction and operation.
The JKIA expansion forms part of the government’s broader transport infrastructure agenda aimed at modernizing strategic national assets and enhancing Kenya’s competitiveness as a regional gateway for air transport, logistics and commerce.
