Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has dismissed claims linking Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) expansion project, saying his company was not part of the bidding process.
Speaking in a press briefing on Thursday, Chirchir said the procurement for the airport upgrade was conducted through an open international competitive bidding process in line with public procurement laws, and that no contract has yet been signed.
“The bidding process was undertaken through an open international competitive process, providing equal opportunity to all qualified local and international firms,” he said, adding that the process closed on May 14, 2026, with bids opened in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.
Chirchir clarified that the government does not expect the final contract award to exceed Sh154.2 billion, following earlier remarks by Treasury CS John Mbadi to the Senate that the project would cost about Sh155 billion. He dismissed higher figures circulating in public, including reports suggesting a cost of up to Sh375 billion, as inaccurate.
“The government does not anticipate the contract award to exceed Sh154.2 billion,” Chirchir said. “The figure of Sh375 billion, which you see in a section of the media, is three times the real cost.”
He explained that the JKIA expansion is not limited to a single terminal project but is a comprehensive upgrade programme covering three major components: rehabilitation and improvement of the existing airfield, renovation and expansion of the current terminal, and construction of a new greenfield passenger terminal.
“This procurement is not solely for the construction of a new passenger terminal,” he said. “Rather, it encompasses rehabilitation of the existing JKIA terminal and airfield, expansion of terminal buildings, construction of new greenfield terminal facilities, airfield infrastructure, aircraft aprons, taxiways, utility networks, access roads, aviation systems, and operational support facilities.”
He added that the expansion will increase the current terminal’s capacity from 7.5 million to 12 million passengers annually, while a new terminal will handle an additional 10 million passengers per year.
Chirchir said the expansion works are expected to be completed within three years after contract award and commencement of construction.
He further disclosed that the government is working on a financing structure for the project, engaging the Trade Development Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation as lead arrangers.
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