A consortium comprising controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s IMC Construction Kenya and Chinese infrastructure giants China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has secured the lucrative Sh375 billion contract to expand and modernize Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The mega infrastructure project, one of the largest public investments in Kenya’s aviation sector, will see the construction of a new passenger terminal, a new runway, and major upgrades to existing airport facilities, with completion targeted for 2029.
The award comes nearly two years after the collapse of the highly contested Adani Group airport concession, which was cancelled by the Kenyan government following intense public scrutiny and legal challenges.
Reports indicate that the project will be implemented under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) framework and forms part of a long-term master plan aimed at transforming JKIA into a world-class aviation hub capable of handling growing passenger and cargo traffic through 2045.
The involvement of IMC Construction Kenya has already sparked public debate due to Chivayo’s controversial profile in Zimbabwe, where he has previously faced allegations and scrutiny over government contracts. The revelation is expected to intensify calls for transparency regarding the procurement process and the ownership structure of companies involved in the deal.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has already demanded full disclosure of the contract details, insisting that a project of such magnitude must be subjected to the highest standards of accountability and value for money.
President William Ruto recently confirmed that work on the airport expansion would commence soon, describing the modernization of JKIA as critical to Kenya’s ambition of strengthening its position as East Africa’s leading aviation hub.
Once complete, the project is expected to significantly increase passenger capacity, improve cargo handling, and enhance Kenya’s competitiveness against regional aviation hubs such as Addis Ababa and Johannesburg.
As attention now shifts to implementation, Kenyans are likely to closely monitor the project amid growing demands for transparency, prudent use of public resources, and timely delivery of the country’s most ambitious airport expansion plan in decades.
