Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has clarified that the expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will cost KSh155 billion.
Speaking on Wednesday, June 17, CS Mbadi dismissed reports that placed the figure at US$2.9 billion (Ksh375.4 billion).
“I know it has been reported that JKIA is going to cost about $2.9 billion. The figure that I know is half of that, $1.2 billion (Ksh155 billion),” said Mbadi.
The Treasury CS was responding to an issue raised by Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka during a plenary session in the Senate on Wednesday.
Mbadi assured Senators that the financing model for the JKIA project has been structured carefully, not to place additional strain on Kenya’s sovereign debt position.
The Treasury CS noted that the project will be funded by the recently established National Infrastructure Fund (NIF).
“I will tell you, it is not going to put any strain on our sovereign debt. And if you want the information about that, either my counterparts at the transport can provide that information, or the government, even through me, can provide that information,” CS Mbadi added.
His remarks come days after the Kenyan government awarded the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) the tender contract to upgrade and expand JKIA.
On Friday, June 12, President William Ruto announced that the upgrading of JKIA will commence in July 2026.
Speaking during a meeting at State House, Ruto said the government has funds needed to modernize JKIA.
“Our airport here was built in 1972. We tried to build another one, but people made a lot of noise, and to this day, our airport still has canvas on the tarmac. We are very embarrassed.
“But I want to assure you that this July we will begin constructing a new airport. We have the funds needed to build that airport because we want to transform Kenya,” Ruto announced.
