President William Ruto has revealed that construction of a new world-class airport will begin in April or May this year, as part of the government's strategy to enhance national infrastructure. He described it as a crucial step to transform the country and alleviate congestion at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The project is expected to cost around Ksh264 billion.
President William Ruto, speaking on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in Nyeri during a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots leaders' meeting, announced that construction of a new world-class airport will commence in the fourth or fifth month of this year. "The airport that has been a problem in this country, by the fourth or fifth month of this year, we will start building a new airport. This is because we must change the country," Ruto stated.
The initiative aims to relieve congestion at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following the 2024 collapse of the Adani-backed expansion deal. Sources close to the matter indicate the new facility is proposed for Konza Technopolis, though locations remain under confirmation. It will feature new terminals, runways, and additional aircraft bays.
Ruto stressed that the airport is integral to a comprehensive development agenda spanning all regions, refuting claims that government initiatives favor specific areas. He asserted that Kenya's path to first-world status is irreversible.
He also spotlighted other infrastructure efforts, such as a 700-kilometer highway linking Isiolo to Mandera to open up North Eastern Kenya and enhance trade, security, and economic ties. Additionally, he confirmed that Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension from Naivasha to Kisumu, Malaba, and onward to Uganda will begin in February 2026. "Next month, I am going to launch the start of the construction of the railway line from Naivasha. It will go up to Kisumu, to Malaba and finally to Uganda," the President revealed.
