President William Ruto has announced that Kenya will begin the modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and construct a new airport starting in 2026, marking a major shift in the country’s infrastructure and economic development agenda.
Speaking in Nairobi County during the contract signing ceremony for the Matuga Clinker Line on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the president said aviation infrastructure will play a central role in positioning Kenya as a first-world economy and a regional logistics hub.
“We are going to have 5 trillion investment in logistics, transport, energy and irrigation,” he stated.
Ruto explained that the airport projects are part of a wider, long-term economic blueprint aimed at unlocking productivity, supporting industrial growth, and strengthening Kenya’s global competitiveness. He said the investments are not isolated projects but part of a coordinated national plan.
The president placed the airport developments within what he described as a bold economic ambition designed to move Kenya away from dependency and toward economic freedom driven by value addition and innovation.
“Allow me to situate today’s context within a broader 5 trillion bold national ambition to take Kenya to a first-world economy, which we have unveiled as a pathway to achieving Kenya’s economic freedom,” he said
According to Ruto, JKIA’s modernisation will improve passenger experience, cargo handling, and overall capacity, while the new airport will ease congestion and support growing demand in air travel, trade, and tourism. He noted that Kenya’s strategic location makes aviation a critical pillar for regional and international connectivity.
The president assured Kenyans that the government has already laid the groundwork to ensure the projects move forward without delays.
“That will include modernisation of JKIA, and the development of a new airport is going to happen next year. We have already consolidated the framework that is going to allow us to do that,” Ruto stated.
Economic stimulus
Ruto added that airport development cannot succeed in isolation, stressing the importance of expanding energy generation to support industries, transport systems, and large infrastructure projects. He said reliable power is essential for sustaining economic growth and attracting investment.
President William
He called on Kenyans to support the development agenda, saying unity and shared purpose are necessary to achieve the country’s ambitions.
“We have to expand the generation of energy. That’s where I want the country to move together and to achieve,” Ruto explained.
The president concluded by emphasising that the massive investments in infrastructure are driven by a clear goal: transforming Kenya into a productive, industrialised economy that creates jobs and improves livelihoods.
“These investments have a clear objective to position Kenya firmly on the trajectory to a first-world economic status driven by productivity, innovation and industrial development,” he elaborated.
