JKIA project: Willis Otieno questions transparency and fiscal burden of Ksh154.2B deal
By Emmanuel Rono, June 24, 2026Safina Party deputy leader, Willis Otieno, has raised concerns over the proposed Ksh154.2 billion deal linked to the expansion and financing of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), questioning the transparency of its financial structure and long-term implications for taxpayers.
Taking to his X account on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Otieno questioned why key financing details, including financing terms, variation clauses, and escalation mechanisms, have not been made public, arguing that they are central to understanding the true cost of the project beyond the headline figure.
“Why are financing terms, variation clauses, and escalation mechanisms not in the public domain when they are the very instruments that determine how a ‘fixed’ cost quietly becomes an expanded bill to taxpayers over time?” he posed.
Need to disclose all clauses in the deal
He further warned that without full disclosure of such clauses, Kenyans may be unable to independently verify whether the Ksh154.2 billion figure reflects the actual long-term cost or merely an initial estimate that could rise significantly during implementation.
“Without transparency on these clauses, Kenyans are left unable to verify whether the headline figure reflects the real long-term cost or just the entry point of a much larger financial commitment,” Otieno said.
Deal signing
The concerns over the project came in after the government signed a contract to modernise Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), paving the way for a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at boosting passenger capacity, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening Kenya’s position as a regional aviation hub.
The contract was signed on behalf of the government by Principal Secretary for Aviation and Aerospace Development Teresia Mbaika and Mr. Yu Xiaodong, General Manager of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), during a ceremony witnessed by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Chirchir said the modernisation programme is designed to expand the airport’s capacity, enhance safety standards, improve passenger and cargo services, and reinforce JKIA’s status as a leading gateway to Africa.
“The JKIA Modernisation Project is a strategic undertaking aimed at expanding airport capacity, enhancing safety, improving passenger and cargo services, and strengthening Kenya’s position as a leading regional aviation hub,” Chirchir said.