Kenya awarded China Communications Construction Co. a $2.9 billion engineering, procurement, and construction contract to upgrade and expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, its largest airport [1, 2]. The contract was announced on June 11, 2026, with construction expected to begin in June 2026 [1, 2].
This deal follows Kenya's cancellation in 2024 of a $2.6 billion, 30-year concession agreement with Indian conglomerate Adani Group. That previous deal was scrapped amid widespread protests and aviation worker strikes in Kenya [2].
Kenya aims to finance part of the airport upgrade through a newly established National Infrastructure Fund and by securing commercial loans backed by aviation passenger service fees [2]. The upgrade responds to rising competition from regional players like Ethiopia and Rwanda, which are investing in new airport capacity [2].
China Communications Construction Co. already has several major infrastructure projects in Kenya, including a 60,000-seat stadium, a new railway, a toll road, and a conference center [2]. The company’s expanding footprint in Kenya underlines growing Chinese involvement in the country's infrastructure sector.
Construction is set to start in June 2026, marking a new phase in the effort to modernize Nairobi’s flagship airport and strengthen Kenya’s position in East Africa’s aviation market [2].
