We're loading the full news article for you. This includes the article content, images, author information, and related articles.
After the collapse of the controversial Adani deal, Deputy President Kindiki announces a radical shift: a brand new facility targeting 100 million passengers annually—but questions on funding and feasibility remain.

Kenya has officially abandoned the strategy of patchwork repairs for its primary aviation gateway, with the government announcing a bold plan to construct an entirely new airport to replace the aging Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The declaration, made Tuesday by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, signals a dramatic pivot in the state’s infrastructure strategy following the collapse of the contentious Adani Group takeover bid late last year. The new vision is not just for an upgrade, but for a complete overhaul aimed at positioning Nairobi as a global aviation rival to Dubai and Addis Ababa.
Speaking in Nairobi, DP Kindiki outlined an ambitious roadmap to scale JKIA’s capacity from its current struggling throughput of approximately 8.8 million passengers annually to a staggering target of 100 million. This moonshot goal would place Kenya in the league of the world’s busiest hubs, such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Dubai International.
“We are building a new airport at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport; the one we have is old,” Kindiki asserted, emphasizing that the current infrastructure is no longer aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 aspirations.
While government communications initially cited a leap from a "current 88 million" to 100 million, aviation data confirms JKIA currently handles under 9 million passengers a year. The discrepancy likely stems from a comparison with global competitors the state hopes to emulate. Regardless of the baseline, the target represents a more than ten-fold increase in capacity—a scale of expansion that will require massive capital investment.
The announcement comes months after the government was forced to cancel a privately initiated proposal (PIP) by India’s Adani Airport Holdings. That deal, valued at roughly $1.85 billion (approx. KES 240 billion), would have seen the conglomerate run JKIA for 30 years in exchange for building a new terminal and second runway.
The Adani proposal crumbled under the weight of public outcry, lawsuits from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and strikes by aviation workers fearing job losses. Critics argued the deal was opaque and undervalued a strategic national asset.
Now, the government insists it will pursue a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model that avoids the pitfalls of the previous attempt. “The decision to proceed with the PPP model is a strategy to break chains like debt burden, allowing the government to work smarter,” President William Ruto stated recently, reinforcing the administration's stance on minimizing direct borrowing.
For the ordinary Kenyan, the stakes are high. A world-class hub could lower freight costs for fresh produce exporters—a sector contributing billions to the economy—and boost tourism jobs. However, the financing model remains a point of concern.
As the dust settles on the announcement, the focus now shifts to the details: Who will build this mega-hub, and at what cost to the taxpayer? For now, the government is selling a dream of the future, but Kenyans will be watching closely to ensure the price tag doesn't mortgage it.
Keep the conversation in one place—threads here stay linked to the story and in the forums.
Other hot threads
E-sports and Gaming Community in Kenya
Active 6 months ago
Popular Recreational Activities Across Counties
Active 6 months ago
The Role of Technology in Modern Agriculture (AgriTech)
Active 6 months ago
Investing in Youth Sports Development Programs
Active 6 months ago