News Desk Reporter
Wicknell Chivayo’s IMC Construction Kenya has secured a stake in a $2.9 billion project to expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
The deal is led by China Communications Construction Company, a Chinese state-owned infrastructure group.
The consortium also includes China Road and Bridge Corporation, a subsidiary of the Chinese firm, and IMC Construction Kenya as a joint venture partner.
Two people familiar with the arrangement confirmed the structure of the project, which forms part of Kenya’s plan to expand capacity at its main international airport.
IMC Construction Kenya is wholly owned by Chivayo, who has been expanding his business interests across the region through infrastructure and energy-related projects.
Kenya will contribute about $1.3 billion to the project. The remainder will be financed through local and Chinese financial institutions. The funding is supported by the National Infrastructure Fund, which is backed by proceeds from the privatisation of the Kenya Pipeline Company.
The expansion includes a new passenger terminal that will add capacity for around 15 million passengers annually. A new runway is also planned, with completion targeted for 2029. Aircraft handling capacity is expected to rise significantly once the project is completed.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport currently handles about 8.8 million passengers a year, above its original design capacity of eight million.
The project was previously awarded to India’s Adani Group in 2024 at an estimated $1.85 billion. It was later cancelled after objections from labour unions and scrutiny linked to a corruption investigation. The tender was re-advertised earlier this year and awarded after a competitive bidding process.
The deal marks an expansion of Chivayo’s regional footprint, which includes contracts in Zimbabwe’s energy sector and infrastructure projects in Tanzania.