President Ruto Announces Construction of New Airport in Konza to Start in April or May

President William Ruto announced over the weekend that construction on a new international airport will get underway in the coming months. Speaking at a political meeting in Nyeri on January 17, he said work would start in April or early May this year. The announcement comes after prolonged discussions about Kenya's aviation infrastructure needs. The president described the facility as a world-class airport intended to form part of broader efforts to upgrade national infrastructure.

Sources familiar with the planning indicate the airport is proposed for Konza Technopolis, roughly 60 kilometres southeast of Nairobi. Exact site details remain under confirmation. The project would feature new terminals, additional runways, and expanded aircraft parking areas. Officials have put the construction cost at approximately Ksh264 billion. The move follows the end of a previous arrangement with Adani Group for expanding Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which collapsed in 2024.

Forum discussions and reports note that Konza's location could support larger-scale development compared to the existing airport's 4500 acres. Some aviation observers point to Ethiopia's ongoing construction of a major new airport near Bishoftu, which began earlier this month and aims for high passenger throughput in phases.

Ruto's statement arrives amid questions over project delivery timelines, contractor selection, and funding arrangements. No specific contractor has been named, and past large infrastructure initiatives in Kenya have often faced delays. The president framed the airport as necessary for long-term national development, though details on connectivity infrastructure, such as roads or rail links to Nairobi, were not addressed in his remarks.