Kenya Eyes China In Push To Upgrade JKIA After Failed Adani Deal

Expanding JKIA has been seen as an overdue move by the government

Apr 22, 2025 - 14:53 Updated: Apr 22, 2025 - 15:00

Kenya Eyes China In Push To Upgrade JKIA After Failed Adani Deal

At the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi on December 4, 2024. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRAL TEA KE

After the deal by Indian conglomerate Adani Group, inclusive of a Ksh238 billion investment to upgrade and expand the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, fell flat in November 2024, Kenya is heading further east to China in plans to expand the country's biggest airport.

On Tuesday, April 22, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi met senior officials of the Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) International on the sidelines of President William Ruto's China State Visit, with the JKIA expansion the main agenda of the meeting.

"Kenya needs a modernised Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to strengthen its position as a leading hub for Eastern Africa and the continent at large," announced Mudavadi in a statement.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi meeting senior officials of BUCG International in China on April 22, 2025. /MUSALIA MUDAVADI

"Ahead of H.E. President William Samoei Ruto’s State Visit, I met with Mr. Raymond Luo, President of BUCG International, Mr. Harold Huang, General Manager of Marketing, and Mr. Wei Zhang, Vice President for Southeast Africa, to discuss their expertise in airport construction."

Renowned for its global airport construction experience spanning over 40 years, Mudavadi disclosed that he had invited the company to participate in the bidding process for the upcoming expansion of JKIA.

"They shared insights from their 42 years of experience building over 30 airport terminals, runways, and specialised aviation facilities worldwide. I encouraged them to submit their expression of interest as Kenya prepares to invite contractors for the upcoming JKIA expansion," added the statement.

President Ruto, on November 21, 2024, in his State of the Nation Address, stopped with immediate effect the takeover of an ongoing Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the government and the Adani Group over JKIA.

The JKIA-Adani deal was heavily defended by President Ruto's administration as Kenyans questioned its credibility and why the government was so insistent on allowing Adani to proceed with the takeover of JKIA for 30 years.

In fact, before Adani landed in trouble with the United States (US) government, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir assured that the government conducted thorough due diligence on Adani Group, which the High Court has temporarily barred from assuming control of JKIA.

He stated on November 14, 2024, that Adani Group had not been involved in any acts of corruption, its directors have clean criminal records, and the company was fully tax compliant.

“Adani has not been barred by any country, has no history of corruption based on our due diligence, is solvent, and is tax compliant in all jurisdictions where it operates. Its directors have not faced criminal convictions related to professional conduct within the last five years and have not been disqualified due to any administrative suspension or debarment proceedings,” Chirchir told Parliament.

Expanding JKIA has been seen as an overdue move by the government, but leasing it to Adani for a period of up to 30 years drew massive uproar, especially over the contents of the deal, some of which caused anxiety among JKIA workers who feared that the conglomerate could implement a restructuring of its workforce.

On January 31, 2025, CS Chirchir announced planned upgrades of infrastructure at the airport. According to him, the government was set to undertake a short-term infrastructure upgrade at JKIA even as plans are underway for a new terminal.

Enhancing the drainage system and improving the water supply were identified as key upgrades planned for the international airport. CS Chirchir also revealed that the walkways and terminal canopies at the airport would also be improved to protect passengers from the natural elements during the rainy season.

The CS stated that the upgrades would be completed within the next six months, while the government continues to seek investment opportunities through public-private partnerships (PPP) following the cancellation of the Adani deal.