Government Seeks Investors to Build New JKIA Terminal

The Kenyan government is making strides to upgrade the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) before 2027. 

The Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen stated that the government will start inviting investors in September this year. He conveyed the news on Friday at the opening of Air France KLM's new Africa headquarters in Nairobi. Murkomen mentioned that the new terminal will be a developmental milestone in the East African region. 

JKIA was built in 1978 and was designed to handle two million passengers annually, but it is currently handling eight million passengers annually, leading to inefficiencies and other issues. JKIA is the main airport in Kenya and one of the busiest in Africa and is home to Kenya Airways, Jambojet, Fly540, and African Express Airways. The terminal construction began on March 14, 1978, and was finished on the other side of the Airport's single runway and officially opened by the late President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

JKIA has two main terminals, 1 and 2. Terminal 1 is arranged in a semi-circular fashion and is split into five sections: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E. Terminal 1A is used for international arrivals and departures by Kenya Airways and Sky Partners, whereas 1B and 1C are used for international departures. 1D serves domestic arrivals and departures, and 1E is for international arrivals. Low-cost carriers use Terminal 2. 

The original terminal, located on the north side of the runway, is operated by the Kenya Air Force and referred to as the Old Embakasi Airport. In January 2021, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) commenced a project to renovate Terminals 1B and 1C, modernizing them to a new state-of-the-art form. This project was completed by China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation (CJIC).