Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has assured the public that the planned expansion and modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will be implemented transparently and in the country’s best interest.
The expansion comes amid rising passenger and cargo volumes at JKIA, which have increasingly strained the airport’s existing infrastructure.
“The government, through the Ministry of Transport and the Kenya Airports Authority, is committed to transparent implementation of the project and will continue to keep stakeholders and the public informed as the project progresses,” Chirchir said.
His remarks followed the Kenya Airports Authority’s announcement on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, of a tender for the construction of a new passenger terminal and the upgrade of existing facilities at JKIA, Kenya’s primary international gateway and regional aviation hub.
JKIA, a key hub for Kenya Airways, is experiencing growing pressure from increased passenger and cargo traffic. In 2025, the airport handled about 8.93 million passengers, exceeding its designed annual capacity of 7.5 million.
Operating with a single runway and a terminal complex that has expanded incrementally over the years, the airport faces congestion across runway operations, passenger terminals, apron space, and landside access roads, especially during peak hours.
An Integrated Master Plan and Feasibility Study concluded in February 2026 recommended a phased development strategy to address both immediate and long-term capacity challenges.
Passenger numbers are projected to rise from 8.93 million in 2025 to 22.31 million by 2045, an annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent.
Air cargo volumes are expected to more than double, from 407,214 tonnes to 860,400 tonnes over the same period.
In the short term, the expansion plan includes upgrading the existing runway, constructing a partial parallel taxiway, adding rapid exit taxiways to reduce runway occupancy time, and selectively expanding and reconfiguring passenger terminal facilities.
The project will also modernise check-in, security screening, immigration, and baggage handling systems, while optimising parking and improving vehicle circulation.
To meet long-term demand, the Kenya Airports Authority plans to develop a new passenger terminal with capacity for an additional 10 million passengers annually, alongside new taxiways, aprons, aircraft support infrastructure, upgraded air traffic control systems, firefighting facilities, and enhanced cargo, maintenance, fuel, and utility services.
The project also envisions the creation of an Airport City and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to transform JKIA into an integrated aviation-led economic hub. The SEZ is expected to attract logistics, agro-processing, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and e-commerce operations, leveraging JKIA’s position as Kenya’s main cargo gateway.
Officials say the expansion is crucial to safeguarding JKIA’s competitiveness, improving service quality, and reinforcing Kenya’s status as East Africa’s leading aviation and trade hub, in line with Vision 2030.
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