A consortium that includes IMC Construction Kenya, a company reportedly linked to Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, has been selected to participate in the planned expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), one of Kenya’s largest infrastructure projects.
The consortium is led by the state-owned China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), in partnership with its subsidiary China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and IMC Construction Kenya. The group is expected to undertake the US$2.9 billion airport modernisation and expansion programme.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has not yet issued a detailed public breakdown of the final contract structure, but the project is expected to significantly increase capacity at the country’s main international gateway.
The development comes months after the collapse of a previously proposed agreement with India’s Adani Group in 2024, which had been valued at about US$1.85 billion. The earlier deal was cancelled following public scrutiny and governance concerns reported at the time.
Following a new procurement process, the CCCC-led consortium emerged as the preferred bidder for the project.
Plans for the expansion include the construction of a new passenger terminal expected to handle an additional 15 million travellers annually. JKIA currently handles about 8.8 million passengers per year, slightly above its original design capacity of eight million.
The project also includes the construction of a second runway, which is expected to increase aircraft movement capacity from about 14 flights per hour to up to 63 once completed, targeted for 2029.
Funding for the expansion will be shared between the Kenyan government and external financiers. Kenya is expected to contribute approximately US$1.3 billion, with the remainder sourced from lenders, including international financial institutions and private financiers. The financing structure is expected to involve securitisation of the air passenger service levy alongside other debt instruments.
President William Ruto has said construction works at JKIA are expected to begin in July, stating that the government has secured both a plan and funding to proceed with the project.
“Our airport was constructed in 1972. We tried to build another one and it was opposed. Today, some of the terminals are made of canvas and it is embarrassing. I want to assure you that beginning July, we will start the construction of another airport. We have a plan and the resources to build the airport,” he said.
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The inclusion of IMC Construction Kenya in the consortium adds to growing regional attention on firms linked to Chivayo, whose companies have previously been associated with major infrastructure and energy projects in Zimbabwe.
These include the Gwanda Solar Power Plant valued at about US$173 million, the rehabilitation of Munyati Power Station at US$163 million, and the proposed Gairezi Hydropower Station estimated at US$131 million.
IMC Construction is also reported to be involved in hospitality developments in Tanzania’s Serengeti and Ngorongoro regions, with projects valued at approximately US$200 million.
The JKIA expansion is part of a broader wave of aviation infrastructure investment across East Africa. Rwanda is developing Bugesera International Airport, Tanzania has expanded Julius Nyerere International Airport, and Ethiopia is constructing a new airport at Bishoftu aimed at increasing regional capacity.
– By Regan Oluoch
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