Kenya has reopened bidding for the modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), reviving plans that were shelved after the cancellation of a controversial proposal involving India’s Adani Group.
In a public notice, the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development invited sealed bids under a design-and-build contract model.
Under this structure, a single contractor or consortium will be responsible for both architectural design and construction, consolidating risk and potentially speeding up delivery.
The notice does not detail the project’s cost, scope or funding structure.
Capacity pressures at Nairobi hub
JKIA currently handles around 8.8 million passengers a year — already above its original design capacity. Traffic is forecast to exceed 22 million passengers annually by 2045, intensifying pressure on infrastructure at Kenya’s main aviation gateway.
Modernisation proposals have previously included:
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Construction of a new terminal capable of handling an additional 10 million passengers
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Development of a second runway to increase aircraft movements and reduce delays
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Expanded taxiways to improve operational efficiency
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Upgraded cargo handling facilities and landside access
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New baggage systems, check-in halls and enhanced air traffic control technology
Officials have also outlined ambitions to integrate the airport into a wider “airport city” and special economic zone, incorporating hotels, logistics parks and business centres to strengthen Nairobi’s position as a regional aviation and trade hub.
Under current plans, the additional terminal capacity would lift JKIA’s medium-term throughput to around 15 million passengers per year.
Adani proposal scrapped after public backlash
The previous modernisation effort involved a public-private partnership that would have granted the Adani Group a 30-year concession to operate Kenya’s main airport. The proposal triggered public opposition, particularly over concerns about ownership and transparency.
Pressure intensified after the conglomerate’s chairman, Gautam Adani, was indicted in the United States on bribery-related charges. The Kenyan government subsequently cancelled the arrangement.
Regional competition intensifies
Kenya’s renewed airport push comes amid aggressive aviation expansion elsewhere in East Africa.
