The government has dismissed circulating reports on the cost of the planned expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), saying some of the figures quoted are inaccurate and misleading.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said in the Senate on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, that the public should not rely on claims that the modernization project will cost more. He added that the cost figure currently held by the government is significantly lower.
Mbadi stated that the JKIA expansion is expected to cost about Ksh155.3 billion, not Ksh375.4 billion, as widely reported.
“The figure that I know is half of the said 2.9 billion US dollars (Ksh375.4 billion), which is $1.2 (Ksh155.3 billion), and it is not going to put any strain on our sovereign debt,” Mbadi said.
Mbadi urged Kenyans not to base their understanding on unverified figures and sensational headlines. He said some media reports fail to accurately capture the true status of ongoing government projects.
“Don’t rely on figures that you find around, especially in some strange systems in print media. Sometimes they are just headlines,” he said.
The clarification comes days after the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) called for full public disclosure and rigorous scrutiny of an alleged Ksh375.4 billion contract awarded to China Communications Construction Company for the expansion and modernization of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Nairobi National Park Land Row
CS Mbadi also addressed proposals to hive off part of Nairobi National Park, saying the government must follow established legal procedures before it can excise any portion of the protected area.
He responded to concerns about the Bomas project and allegations that park land had been earmarked for removal without due process. Mbadi told senators that clear steps govern how land from a national park can be withdrawn, and he urged that the matter be examined under existing laws and regulations.
“On the issue of Bomas and the hiving off of Nairobi National Park, there is a procedure for hiving off Nairobi National Park,” he said.
Mbadi added that he is ready to return and provide a detailed response on the project if given the opportunity. He assured the House that either he or the relevant Cabinet Secretaries overseeing the initiative could share the required information.
“I am competent and capable of coming back here to address that issue, and I would be glad to do it. Alternatively, my colleagues, the line ministers responsible, can also respond to it,” he added.
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