KAA Confirms Adani as Contractor for Major Upgrade of Kenya’s Busiest Airport

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has confirmed that it has received an investment proposal from Adani Airport Holdings Limited to address the aging infrastructure of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which opened in 1978.

According to KAA Acting CEO Henry Ogoye, the country’s aging infrastructure poses a threat to its regional competitiveness, necessitating an overhaul.

The proposed plan, known as the JKIA Medium Term Investment Plan, was approved by the Cabinet and includes significant improvements to the passenger terminal building, runway, taxiway, and apron. However, the attendant investment requirement is significant and cannot be funded by the government due to the prevailing fiscal constraints.

The KAA plans to partner with Adani under the Public Private Partnerships Act 2021. This partnership will undergo rigorous technical, financial, and legal reviews to ensure compliance with the act. The project agreement will also involve thorough stakeholder engagement, approval from the National Treasury, clearance from the Attorney General, and final Cabinet approval.

The KAA has addressed concerns raised by staff and the airport business community, assuring them that no jobs will be lost as a result of the planned upgrades. Instead, the expanded facilities are expected to create new business opportunities and benefits for airport operators and the broader community.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has also sought to allay fears that the government is planning to sell off the airport, stating that such a valuable asset can only be sold after a full public process that parliament endorses. Instead, the government plans to modernize the airport and build a new terminal through a transparent legal process.