New JKIA terminal to be completed in 3 years, says CS Murkomen

By Peter Ochieng

The government is racing against time to construct a new terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi within the next three years.

Addressing a Senate plenary on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Roads and Transport Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen said construction will be done and dusted in 2026.

Murkomen said the government intends to initiate the tender process on 15th January, 2024.

The CS said the terminal is part of a Public Private Partnerships (PPP) model, with the aim of having a fully operational facility.

“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,” the CS said.

“The terminal will house both local and international passengers but subject to the completion of a feasibility study that is currently ongoing,” said the CS.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna wondered why passengers at JKIA were being dropped off, far away from entrances to terminals, especially during this 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?” paused the Senator, who doubles up as ODM Secretary General.

“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,” responded the CS.

Earlier, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei was kicked out of the Senate during the grilling of Murkomen.

He tried to protest but he was eventually led away by Busia senator Okiya Omtatah, his Kakamega counterpart Boni Khalwale and two sergeants at arms.

The Senator protested what he termed as being denied a chance to ask the CS questions, despite arriving early.

The legislature and the CS have been at loggerheads, of late.