His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, is set to tap financial assistance from the United States of America during his approaching visit to Washington DC, for the upcoming New Nairobi Airport project, which is expected to help Kenya's capital, Nairobi, draw in more international passengers from places such as the United States, the United Kingdom (UK), and the Middle East. The grandiose plans to build the New Nairobi Airport emerge, as Kenya aims to be a key aviation hub within the region.

The upcoming $2 billion (which is equivalent to Ksh264 billion) international airport is anticipated to be built through a public-private partnership (PPP) and will relieve the high pressure that currently exists on the outdated Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which has recently lost its general aviation status and ranking due to capacity and infrastructure issues.

During the recent severe rains in Kenya, JKIA's terminal 1C experienced leaking roofs. The lack of infrastructure at Kenya's international airport, as evidenced by these leaky roofs, has generated concerns about the airport's infrastructure, which occasionally causes terminal activities and operations to stall.

According to Henry Ogoye, interim Managing Director for the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), “repairs on terminals 1C and 1B have already begun. The issue is currently being mitigated as work progresses, and the designated contractor responsible for the repairs was issued a directive requiring them to complete the repair work on time," he added.

The JKIA was scheduled to receive a major renovation during the current fiscal year. Stated by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, the government intends to decommission the terminal and create a new one with greater standards.

Posted on : 06 May,2024