Jomo Kenyatta and Wilson International Airports will get new master plans to boost safety, capacity, and East Africa hub ambitions.

Highlights

● Jomo Kenyatta International Airport handled 12M passengers in 2023, exceeding its 8M design capacity

● Privatization plans scrapped amid union backlash over jobs

● Kenya eyes 5M international tourists and 5M local tourists by 2027

Faced with soaring traffic and outdated infrastructure, Kenya has launched a comprehensive review of its two main airports in Nairobi as part of a long-term strategy to modernize aviation capacity and accelerate growth in tourism.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) announced a series of public consultations to revise the master plans for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Wilson Airport. The aim is to develop integrated blueprints that align with environmental, economic, and community goals, as traffic pressures outpace current infrastructure.

Designed to handle 8 million passengers annually, JKIA welcomed over 12 million travelers in 2023. The growing gap between capacity and actual traffic has been worsened by delays in key expansion projects, largely due to funding constraints.

To support the planning process, a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) is being conducted by Dar Al Handasah Consultants and Geodev (K) Ltd. KAA says the final plans will serve as “a compass to guide investment and ensure balanced growth.”

Recently, Kenya considered a USD1.85 billion, 30-year concession deal with India's Adani Group to expand and manage JKIA, but the proposal was shelved after strong union opposition over job security and concerns about privatization.

The master plan revision feeds into a broader national vision: strengthening Nairobi’s role as a regional aviation hub and meeting the country’s ambitious tourism goals. In 2024, Kenya received 2.4 million international tourists. Authorities hope to double that number — along with 5 million domestic visitors — by 2027.

This article was initially published in French by Henoc Dossa

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho