The JKIA modernisation project faces parliamentary scrutiny over Kenyan participation.
MPs want CRBC to demonstrate local involvement, prioritise Kenyan materials and explain the procurement shift from KAA to the Transport Ministry.
MPs have demanded proof that Kenyan firms and professionals are benefiting from the Ksh154 billion JKIA upgrade. They also want contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) to prioritise local materials during construction.
The National Assembly’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee raised the concerns during an airport visit on Tuesday, November 10. Members met Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) officials and Aviation and Aerospace Development Principal Secretary Teresiah Mbaika.
During the meeting, lawmakers also questioned the transfer of procurement responsibilities from KAA to the Ministry of Roads and Transport.
MPs seek local benefits from JKIA upgrade
Limuru MP John Kiragu challenged CRBC to provide evidence that it was engaging Kenyan companies and professionals. He warned against foreign businesses registering companies locally to take work that Kenyan firms could undertake.
The committee called for fair opportunities for local businesses rather than arrangements that sideline them. Members also urged the contractor to involve more Kenyans in carrying out the project to build local capacity.
Alongside those demands, MPs discouraged importing all the materials needed for major infrastructure works. They urged CRBC to use Kenyan materials adequately and turn to imports only when necessary.
Construction is already underway, with more than 100 machines carrying out excavation work at the airport site.
Ministry explains tender and passenger pressure
Meanwhile, Mbaika said growing passenger traffic had made the airport’s modernisation important. JKIA now handles more than 10 million passengers annually, against a capacity of 7.5 million.
She said stakeholder consultations informed a 2025 master plan aimed at improving the airport. The ministry also cited Kenya’s lagging position within East Africa as a reason for the development.
On procurement, Mbaika said the CRBC contract followed Kenya’s withdrawal from the controversial Adani deal after widespread protests. The ministry then sought an engineering, procurement and construction contractor through an open tender.
She said the tender opened on March 3, 2026, and closed in May that year. Two bidders competed, with CRBC emerging as the successful bidder for the Ksh154 billion contract, including tax.
The stated construction period is 18 months, while the project’s expected completion date is mid-2029.
