Kenya Pursues Beijing Group for JKIA Upgrade After Adani Cancellation

Kenya is turning to the Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) for the planned expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after scrapping a controversial deal with India's Adani Group over transparency and legal concerns. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi met with BUCG executives, highlighting their extensive international experience in airport construction and inviting them to submit an expression of interest for the project. The shift comes as President William Ruto prepares for a state visit to China, with infrastructure and investment high on the agenda. Kenyan officials emphasized the need to modernize JKIA to strengthen the country's position as an East African aviation hub and have been actively courting private investors to fill a significant infrastructure financing gap. The move follows Kenya's broader strategy of seeking reliable partners for key projects, especially after recent setbacks involving Adani in both airport and energy infrastructure sectors. The JKIA expansion is expected to include the construction of a new terminal and other facility upgrades.