The Cabinet Secretary for Transport has dismissed claims that the government has already awarded a contract for the upgrade of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Addressing the media on June 18, CS Davis Chirchir said the company mentioned in reports linked to Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has no role in the JKIA upgrade plan and was not among the contractors who submitted bids for the project.
“The said company is not among the contractors that submitted bids for the JKIA contract,” said Davis Chirchir.
According to the government, the procurement process involved a comprehensive evaluation of bids and adherence to all statutory requirements, including due diligence, approvals and compliance with public procurement laws.
The clarification follows reports that the government granted a stake to a company associated with Wicknell Chivayo in the proposed KSh375 billion expansion.
CS Davis Chirchir Addresses Status of JKIA Upgrade Contract
CS further noted that the final value of the contract has not been determined, adding that the government does not expect the award to exceed $154.2 billion.
According to the CS, the upgrade project is expected to go beyond construction of a new passenger terminal and will include rehabilitation of existing terminal facilities and airfield infrastructure.
It will also involve the expansion of terminal buildings, the rehabilitation of the airfield, and the development of a new greenfield terminal, alongside improvements to aircraft stands, taxiways, utility networks, access roads, aviation systems, and other supporting infrastructure.
Also Read: Wicknell Chivayo: Zimbabwean Businessman and Ruto’s Buddy at the Centre of KSh375 Billion JKIA Deal
Details of JKIA Upgrade Project
He described the project as comprising multiple components designed to deliver a modern international airport.
According to the government, the existing terminal will be expanded from a capacity of 7.5 million passengers to 12 million, while the new terminal will handle an additional 10 million passengers annually.
This is expected to raise JKIA’s overall capacity to about 22 million passengers per year.
Also Read: Kenya Awards JKIA Upgrade Contract to Chinese Firm and Family Bank Gets Listed on NSE
CS Chirchir said the design incorporates an X-shaped terminal layout intended to improve passenger flow, reduce walking distances, and enhance aircraft movement efficiency across multiple sides of the airport.
The CS further defended the projected cost, saying it is based on benchmarking against similar airport developments in the region.
He argued that comparative analysis shows the estimated construction cost is competitive and, in some cases, lower than recent airport projects of similar scale.
Chirchir also said the unit cost of the development is about 20 per cent lower than comparable regional facilities classified under IATA Category B or C service standards.
Based on these assessments, the government maintained that the cost of the project will not exceed KSh154.2 billion.
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