xNAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya has selected a Chinese construction company for the planned modernization and expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), a project estimated to cost about $2.9 billion (approximately Sh375 billion) and aimed at boosting the capacity of the country’s busiest airport.
The move comes as the government advances plans to transform JKIA into a major regional aviation hub following the cancellation of a previous airport expansion proposal involving India’s Adani Group in 2024.
The selected firm, Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), has been linked to the bidding process for the airport upgrade after Kenya invited the company to participate in the project.
The Chinese firm has previously undertaken major airport construction projects in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
The JKIA expansion project is expected to include the construction of a new passenger terminal, a second runway, expanded aircraft parking areas, taxiways and modernization of existing airport facilities.
Government officials have said the upgrades are necessary to address congestion at the airport, which is currently operating beyond its design capacity.
According to the Ministry of Roads and Transport, JKIA handled nearly nine million passengers in 2025, exceeding its annual design capacity of 7.5 million passengers.
The planned expansion seeks to increase passenger handling capacity and improve operational efficiency at Kenya’s primary international gateway.
Transport officials have indicated that the project will be guided by a long-term master plan running through 2045.
The development is also expected to incorporate modern airport technologies, including automated baggage handling systems, biometric passenger processing and digital queue management systems.
The government launched an international tender for the project earlier this year and has said construction works could begin in 2026 once procurement, financing and contractual processes are completed.
Officials have maintained that the airport remains under public ownership and that the modernization programme is intended to enhance Kenya’s position as East Africa’s leading aviation hub while supporting growth in tourism, trade and cargo transport.
The expansion is among the largest infrastructure projects planned by the government and forms part of broader efforts to upgrade transport infrastructure and accommodate rising passenger and cargo demand in the region.
