By Mumo Judah
June 2, 2026
NAIROBI, Kenya — Construction of the Sh272 billion expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is scheduled to commence this month, marking the beginning of a landmark infrastructure project aimed at transforming Kenya’s main airport into one of Africa’s leading aviation hubs.
The expansion project, valued at approximately $2 billion, forms the centerpiece of a new 20-year master plan that seeks to modernize the airport, increase passenger handling capacity, and strengthen Nairobi’s position as a regional gateway for trade, tourism, and investment.
The project will be financed through the newly established National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), making it the first major development to be undertaken under the government’s new infrastructure financing framework.
The move follows the cancellation of the proposed public-private partnership agreement with India’s Adani Group, which had attracted significant public debate. The government has since opted for a state-backed financing model designed to attract investment while maintaining public ownership of strategic national assets.
Officials say the National Infrastructure Fund will enable Kenya to undertake major commercial infrastructure projects without placing additional pressure on government spending allocated to sectors such as health, education, and social services.
To provide initial funding, the government raised Sh106.3 billion through the sale of a 65 percent stake in the Kenya Pipeline Company. From these proceeds, Sh38.7 billion has been allocated to the National Infrastructure Fund as seed capital for the JKIA expansion project.
The fund is also expected to attract investments from domestic pension schemes, insurance firms, and collective investment funds seeking long-term returns from strategic national projects.
In addition, Kenya has secured support from several international development partners, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the European Investment Bank (EIB), which are expected to provide financing and technical assistance.
The engineering contract for the project has been awarded to Beijing Construction Group, which will oversee implementation of the airport’s ambitious expansion programme.
According to government projections, the project is intended to significantly increase JKIA’s passenger handling capacity and ultimately support up to 100 million passengers annually in the long term.
The first phase of construction, expected to begin this year, will focus on improving aircraft movement around the airport through the construction of rapid-exit taxiways and sections of a parallel taxiway. These upgrades are expected to reduce congestion and improve operational efficiency.
A major milestone is planned for 2027 with the construction of a new 4.8-kilometre runway designed to accommodate larger aircraft and support growing international traffic.
The third phase, expected to be completed by 2029, will involve the construction of a modern passenger terminal capable of handling an additional 10 million passengers every year. The facility is expected to feature advanced passenger processing systems, enhanced security infrastructure, and improved customer experience facilities.
Beyond aviation infrastructure, the master plan includes the development of an Airport City and a Special Economic Zone around JKIA. The commercial development is expected to attract businesses involved in logistics, manufacturing, cargo operations, hospitality, and international trade.
Government officials believe the integrated development will create thousands of jobs while boosting Kenya’s competitiveness as a regional transport and business hub.
Despite the expected economic benefits, authorities have cautioned that some operational disruptions may occur during construction. Passengers could experience occasional delays at security checkpoints, check-in counters, and other airport facilities as works progress alongside normal airport operations.
The project is also expected to place the National Infrastructure Fund under close public scrutiny, with stakeholders calling for strong transparency and accountability measures to ensure proper management of public resources.
If successfully implemented, the JKIA expansion is expected to become one of the most transformative infrastructure projects in Kenya’s history, significantly enhancing the country’s aviation capacity and strengthening Nairobi’s role as a key gateway connecting Africa to the rest of the world.
Construction is expected to begin later this month, ushering in a new chapter for Kenya’s aviation sector and long-term economic development strategy.
