After Adani Exit, China Lands Ksh375 Billion JKIA Expansion Deal
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The government has awarded China Communications Construction Company a Ksh 375.4 billion ($2.9 billion) contract to modernize and expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) under the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF).
The deal signals a comeback to big-ticket infrastructure financing by Chinese contractors following the government’s annulment of a concession deal with India’s Adani Group two years ago.
The contract was awarded to the Chinese state-owned firm, though an official public announcement is yet to be made, sources familiar with the deal informed Bloomberg.
Work will commence in June 2026 after the government receives initial funds from the privatization of the Kenya Pipeline Company for the NIF.
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JKIA Expansion Project and its Financing through Chinese Contractors after a Prior Deal Fell Through
The agreement marks a comeback for major infrastructure funding by Chinese contractors after the government had annulled a prior concession agreement with Indian group Adani two years prior.
The authorities stated the bid was awarded to China Communications Construction Co.
“The award to CCCC signals a return of large-scale infrastructure financing through Chinese contractors,” Bloomberg quoted, and noted that no official statement on the deal from the government has been made yet.
Months ago, President William Ruto had announced construction would commence in June 2026 after the government secured initial funding for NIF from the sale of Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).
This funding was intended to finance strategic infrastructure projects without commercial loan reliance.
JKIA expansion project, its Master Plan, and the Contract Awarded to China Communications Construction Co
The extension project is expected to follow a 20-year master plan covering 2045 and includes a phased development of infrastructure, capital expenditure plans and financial feasibility analysis for expanding JKIA’s capacity and efficiency.
“The contract was given to China Communications Construction Co.”, stated the authorities, noting that the talks closed a short while ago.
Lack of government statement to this effect has left the financing terms of the deal and execution dates limited to briefings by official sources.
Chinese contractors are to date dominating the Kenyan construction landscape with a plethora of roads, railways and port facilities constructed within the country in the past decade with Chinese loan backing.
This project is tipped to be the largest single project implemented via NIF since its inception.
Photo of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). PHOTO/NMG