KAA to Begin JKIA Upgrades in June 2026, CS Chirchir Announces

KAA to Begin JKIA Upgrades in June 2026, CS Chirchir Announces

The long-awaited expansion and modernization of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is expected to begin in June 2026, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has announced, signaling the start of one of the country’s most ambitious aviation infrastructure projects.

Chirchir made the announcement on Tuesday, March 10, during a stakeholder engagement meeting attended by government officials, aviation experts, media representatives, and project consultants in Nairobi.

According to the Cabinet Secretary, preparations for the upgrade are already at an advanced stage following the launch of an international bidding process last week to identify contractors who will undertake the project.

“We are working towards breaking ground by June this year. The government will ensure that businesses operating at JKIA are supported as the works commence,” Chirchir told stakeholders during the meeting.

The forum also brought together officials from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), who are expected to play a central role in overseeing the development.

During the meeting, aviation experts presented details of the airport’s long-term development plan, outlining the scale and scope of the proposed upgrades. The project will be guided by a 20-year master plan running until 2045, which sets out phased infrastructure development, projected capital expenditure, and financial feasibility strategies for the expansion.

Although the government has completed preliminary cost estimates for the project, Chirchir declined to reveal the total value of the expansion, citing the ongoing procurement process.

“We already know the cost of building materials, including steel, and we have done the costing, but the procurement process is ongoing,” he explained.

The expansion will be implemented in two major phases, both designed to significantly increase the airport’s passenger handling capacity while modernising existing facilities and improving the overall travel experience.

Phase One will focus on upgrading existing infrastructure within the airport. Planned improvements include rehabilitation of taxiways, expansion of passenger processing areas, upgrades to landside access roads, and the introduction of enhanced digital services for travellers.

Officials say these upgrades are expected to increase the airport’s capacity to 12 million passengers annually within 18 months.

Phase Two, which will run concurrently with the first phase, will involve the construction of entirely new facilities aimed at positioning Kenya as a major regional aviation hub.

The second phase will include the construction of a 4,500-metre parallel runway and a 230,000-square-metre passenger terminal capable of accommodating an additional 10 million passengers annually.

The proposed terminal will feature a modern X-shaped architectural design, intended to improve passenger movement, reduce congestion, and enhance service efficiency within the airport.

Government officials noted that carrying out the two phases simultaneously will significantly accelerate the overall delivery timeline of the project.

Despite the extensive construction works planned, authorities have assured airlines, passengers, and airport businesses that operations will continue normally throughout the construction period.

Officials say the phased approach will ensure that the airport remains functional, with minimal disruption to flights and airport services.

The announcement comes shortly after President William Ruto revealed that the JKIA expansion would be the first flagship project financed under the newly established National Infrastructure Fund (NIF).

According to the President, the government plans to inject KSh20 billion as seed funding for the project, sourced from proceeds generated through the partial sale of shares in Kenya Pipeline Company.

The expansion of JKIA is widely viewed as a critical step toward strengthening Kenya’s role as a regional aviation and logistics hub linking Africa with global markets.

Once completed, the upgraded airport is expected to significantly increase passenger and cargo capacity while supporting the country’s tourism, trade, and economic growth ambitions in the coming decades.

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KAA to Begin JKIA Upgrades in June 2026, CS Chirchir Announces