Kenya Prioritizes Major Rail, Aviation, and Irrigation Projects in 2026 Infrastructure Push

The Kenyan government has outlined an infrastructure schedule for 2026 that centers on the expansion of the Standard Gauge Railway and a primary overhaul of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This program marks a transition from the foundational work of 2025 toward the delivery of several long-delayed strategic projects.

A central component of the plan involves the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha through Kisumu to Malaba. This project is intended to link the Port of Mombasa more effectively with the regional hinterland, including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The extension follows years of discussions regarding the financing of the 475-kilometer line, which is estimated to cost approximately 648 billion shillings.

In the aviation sector, the government plans to commence construction of a modern airport terminal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This development follows the recent cancellation of previous expansion proposals and is aimed at addressing capacity constraints at the regional hub. Related aviation works scheduled for the year include the installation of new boarding bridges and ground-handling equipment to improve operational flow.

The 2026 calendar also includes the completion of the Bomas International Convention Centre and the Talanta Sports City Complex. The convention facility, which has a reported budget of 31.5 billion shillings, is currently being built by a workforce of 3,000 people to meet an April deadline. It is already scheduled to host its first major international summit in May.

Water and road infrastructure will see parallel activity with the launch of the Galana Kulalu Dam. The 40 billion shilling contract for the dam was finalized in late 2025 with the National Irrigation Authority and China Communications Construction Company. The project is designed to provide storage for 305 million cubic meters of water, enabling the irrigation of 300,000 acres of land. On the roads, work will continue on the 233-kilometer Rironi-Mau Summit highway, part of a broader target to tarmac 6,000 kilometers of roads across the country.

To support these capital-intensive projects, the government is moving to operationalize the National Infrastructure Fund and a Sovereign Wealth Fund. These mechanisms are designed to mobilize up to 5 trillion shillings by leveraging private capital and proceeds from state asset sales, reducing the current reliance on external debt and direct taxation for infrastructure financing.