Kenya’s Bold Vision: New International Airport to Transform Aviation Capacity

On August 11, 2025, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir confirmed Kenya will build a new international airport through a public‑private partnership (PPP), fast‑tracking construction after last year’s collapse of a concession to upgrade Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The announcement, made at a PPP Symposium in Nairobi, follows the November 2024 cancellation of the Adani Group contract amid legal controversies linked to the company’s leadership. Officials say the project is now the state’s aviation priority, aimed at expanding capacity and keeping Kenya competitive as an African hub.

Chirchir framed the plan as both an economic and reputational project. “We want to become that anchor state that attracts visitors, and when you come, you feel good arriving through the airport,” he said. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi backed strict timelines and confirmed the project sits in the government’s pipeline for near‑term delivery. The vision includes the new build and a broad slate of JKIA works, with the combined price tag estimated at $2 billion.

Funding, Planning, and Oversight

Kenya is seeking financing from development lenders while structuring a PPP that shares risk and rewards between the state and private investors.

Key points on financing and funding:
– Agencies approached include the African Development Bank, China Exim Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), KfW, and the European Investment Bank.
– A separate $1.36 billion securitized bond for road construction is scheduled for next month, signaling a wider funding push behind the country’s infrastructure program.

Master planning and environmental oversight:
– The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is developing Integrated Master Plans for JKIA and Wilson Airport, supported by Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments (SESA) and broad stakeholder engagement.
– Planning is guided by the Environmental Management and Coordination Act to ensure land use, social impacts, and environmental risks are assessed before major works begin.
– KAA is also leading master planning for the new international airport to ensure integration with hubs in Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Malindi.

Regulatory reform in parallel:
– The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) is steering the Draft Civil Aviation Bill, 2024, which consolidates and modernizes aviation law, addresses drone operations and environmental standards, and incorporates ICAO recommendations.
– Stakeholder consultations concluded in late 2024, with final drafts issued for validation in 2025.
– The Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations 2024 align with ICAO Annex 17, focusing on updated security checks, clearer operator duties, and stronger oversight.
– The National Aviation Safety Plan (2023–2025) sets targets and risk controls, aiming for over 75% Safety Management System implementation across providers by 2025.

Important: The financing, master planning, and regulatory reforms are being advanced in tandem to satisfy lender requirements and to de‑risk the project for private capital.

Capacity Pressures and Project Scope

Traffic growth and demand drivers:
– Kenya Airways reported a record 5.23 million passengers in 2024 and a 6% revenue rise to KES 188.5 billion.
– The government’s tourism aim is 5 million tourists a year.
– Analysis by VisaVerge.com links capacity expansion to these targets by removing choke points that hinder business and leisure travel.

Planned scope for JKIA and the new airport:
– JKIA will see major improvements alongside the new build, including:
– A new terminal
– Expanded passenger facilities
– More aircraft parking bays (aprons)
– A second runway
– Objectives are to reduce operational bottlenecks, improve passenger flow, and protect JKIA’s role as a regional gateway for East and Central Africa.

Operational and passenger benefits:
– Better aprons, efficient taxiways, and modern layouts can cut delays and improve on‑time performance.
– For travelers: more flights, smoother transfers, improved service, bigger terminals, better security lanes, and reliable baggage systems.
– For airlines: additional slots, higher aircraft utilization, potential for wide‑body operations, and reduced ground congestion.

Procurement, Lessons Learned, and PPP Terms

Lessons from the cancelled concession:
– The government pivoted after the Adani contract withdrawal, favoring clear procurement, tight timelines, and strong compliance.
– Officials emphasize urgency and transparency, with Mbadi pressing for strict schedule discipline.

How Kenya is structuring the PPP:
– The state is courting private capital by aligning regulations with international standards and publishing clear master plans.
– Development partners have been invited to fund bankable pieces of the project to spread risk and accelerate delivery.
– Officials plan to sequence construction and link payments to performance to keep costs predictable and timelines firm.

Investor considerations:
– Investors will watch PPP terms, regulatory alignment, and milestone progress on SESA and master plans before committing capital.

Role of KCAA Reforms and National Safety Targets

Why regulatory reform matters to lenders:
– The Draft Civil Aviation Bill, 2024 aims to align safety and environmental oversight with global norms—often a prerequisite for international lenders.
– The Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations 2024 respond to evolving threats and new checkpoint technologies.
– The NASP 2023–2025 goal of over 75% Safety Management System uptake signals a systemwide shift toward proactive risk management.

Integration with the Wider Airport Network

Supporting hubs and feeder traffic:
– Secondary airports—Moi International Airport (Mombasa), Kisumu, Eldoret, and Malindi—will handle domestic and regional links and feeder traffic.
– This network approach enables the new international airport and JKIA to focus on long‑haul and high‑density regional operations, supporting tourism and trade.

Next Steps, Timelines, and Public Communication

Planned immediate steps:
1. Achieve financial close
2. Finalize master plans
3. Secure environmental and social clearance
4. Select contractors and begin phased construction

Phasing and traffic management:
– Authorities expect phased works that keep current traffic moving while new capacity is brought online.

Regulatory and stakeholder timeline:
– Stakeholder validation of regulations continues, with final adoption targeted by late 2025.

Where to track updates:
– Government portals will publish timelines, procurement notices, and environmental processes.
– KAA remains the primary contact for master planning and construction notices; travelers and airlines can monitor briefs, advisories, and tender postings on the agency’s site at https://www.kaa.go.ke.

Economic and Strategic Goals

Long‑term vision:
– Kenya aims to be a premier aviation hub with:
– Strong safety and security standards
– Modern terminals
– A competitive airline sector supporting jobs and trade

Final assessment:
– After years of delays and policy resets, the state is betting that careful planning, cleaner regulation, and a balanced PPP can deliver the runway Kenya needs—both literally and for the broader economy that depends on efficient air connectivity.