Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has announced a raft of changes at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport aimed at improving operations and accelerating infrastructure upgrades.
The upcoming changes were announced on Wednesday, July 9, after a high-level meeting with senior officials from ground handling agents (GHAs) operating at JKIA, KAA Board Chairman Caleb Kositany, and Acting Managing Director Dr. Mohamud Gedi.
During the meeting, the stakeholders outlined key reforms designed to transform the airport into a modern facility that is competitive on the global stage.
One of the most urgent priorities is infrastructure. During the meeting, Kositany and the KAA leadership noted that facilities, including runways, airside access roads, and the baggage handling system, were all due for upgrades.
As such, KAA committed to leveraging its own financial resources to accelerate infrastructure development at JKIA, in line with the government’s broader vision to modernise and elevate the airport’s status on the global stage.
In addition, Kositany also emphasised KAA's support for ground handling companies, which are integral at the JKIA for a wide range of services to airlines, including passenger and baggage handling, ramp services, cargo handling, and aircraft support.
The stakeholder meeting came at a time when the government is under pressure to show progress in developing JKIA, particularly after the infamous collapse of the controversial deal with Indian conglomerate Adani Group.
In 2024, the government quietly initiated talks to hand over JKIA's management to a subsidiary of the Adani Group in a deal that was met with public backlash. President William Ruto ultimately pulled the plug on the deal in November 2024.
Since then, the government has shifted focus. Internal reforms and investment in infrastructure are needed to restore some public confidence.
Earlier this week, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir exuded confidence that the government would break ground at the JKIA before the end of the calendar year.
“We are really conscious about this. Remember our airport got burnt and is in a tent, and so we are really conscious, and we are working around the clock to see on a very tight timeline whether we can break ground before the end of this year,” CS Chirchir said.
One of the latest upgrades which has been witnessed at JKIA is the government's investment in a new generation aircraft recovery system to help in handling stalled aircraft at the facility’s sole runway.
