New JKIA terminal to be constructed in 3 years, Murkomen tells Senators

Addressing a Senate plenary on Wednesday, Murkomen disclosed that the government intends to initiate the tender process on January 15, 2024. 

The new terminal is part of a Public Private Partnerships (PPP) model, with the aim of having a fully operational facility within the next three years. 

“We are in the process of working on a new Public Private Partnerships (PPP) model of a new terminal that we should be advertising on January 15, 2024 and hopefully by June, we can get the relevant contractor so that in the next three years we have a completely new airport,” he said.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna raised concerns about passengers being dropped off a considerable distance from the airport terminals, especially during the rainy season. 

“I want the CS to explain to me the rationale of dropping passengers away from the entrance of the terminals in this particular season when it is raining. We are seeing what other international airports look like, why can’t we drop passengers at the doors of terminals?” Sifuna posed.

Murkomen explained that the current infrastructure limitations at the international airport necessitate the development of a new terminal. 

“Our JKIA infrastructure is a bit constrained to accommodate all the airlines parking that we require, and that is an issue that is in regard to building a new terminal,” he said.

This development aligns with the Kenya Airports Authority's recent announcement, indicating a comprehensive infrastructural overhaul at JKIA. 

“To this end, the Government has commenced the process to address infrastructure development of the facility covering the expansion of the passenger terminal, runway capacity, and provision of additional aircraft parking bays beginning this financial year 2023/2024,” read the statement by KAA.

The response came in the heels of public apprehension sparked by a viral video in November revealing roof leakages at the international airport.

Furthermore, a power outage during the same month prompted attention, leading KAA to assure the public of efforts to synchronize additional backup power within 30 days.