NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan digital creator Liz Jackson has criticised the state of Kenya’s aviation infrastructure, arguing that ongoing efforts to modernise Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will not be enough to position the country as a leading aviation hub in Africa.
Jackson has called for Kenya to consider building a brand-new, modern airport from scratch, saying the country risks falling behind other African nations that have invested in newer aviation facilities.
Jackson expressed her concerns while discussing the state of airports across the continent, comparing Kenya’s facilities with airports she has encountered in other African countries.
She was particularly critical of what she described as Kenya’s failure to keep pace with regional competitors.
“In the region, we are doing badly when it comes to airports. All African countries I’ve been to have modern airports. We have failed.”
Jackson cited her experiences in countries including Angola and Zimbabwe, arguing that their airports demonstrated the scale of modern infrastructure that Kenya should aspire to provide.
According to Jackson, the solution lies in constructing a new airport rather than relying entirely on improvements to JKIA.
Her argument is based on the belief that the current airport’s existing design and infrastructure could limit the impact of extensive renovations.
Jackson’s position is that Kenya should build a facility from scratch that incorporates modern passenger services, efficient layouts and infrastructure designed around future demand.
The proposal comes as JKIA continues to serve as Kenya’s principal international gateway and one of the most important aviation hubs in East Africa.
Jackson’s comments come against the backdrop of long-running concerns about JKIA’s capacity. The airport was originally designed to handle approximately 7.5 million passengers annually, but passenger traffic has exceeded that figure.
Recent figures cited in the debate indicate that JKIA has handled about 8.6 million passengers, placing additional pressure on terminals and other facilities.
Rising passenger numbers have contributed to concerns about congestion, passenger experience and the airport’s ability to accommodate future growth.
Kenya’s position as a major regional business and tourism destination means demand for international air travel is expected to remain significant.
Jackson’s argument is therefore centred on whether modernising an existing facility can adequately address those long-term demands.
The Kenyan government has already pursued major plans to improve JKIA.
The modernisation programme includes work aimed at expanding terminal facilities, improving passenger handling capacity, increasing parking space and upgrading other airport infrastructure.
Plans have also included the development of additional runway capacity and improvements to existing facilities.
