Mudavadi Announces Shift to China for JKIA Expansion Following Adani Deal Collapse
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi recently met with top officials from the Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) International during President William Ruto’s ongoing trip to China.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the much-anticipated expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Mudavadi revealed that he had held discussions with BUCG’s President, Raymond Luo; General Manager of Marketing, Harold Huang; and Vice President for Southeast Africa, Wei Zhang.
These leaders bring decades of experience to the table, especially in the field of airport construction.
The BUCG has built a reputation over the last 42 years for constructing over 30 airport terminals and specialized aviation facilities around the globe.
Their extensive knowledge in airport development makes them a key player in Kenya’s plans to upgrade JKIA. Mudavadi invited the company to submit an expression of interest for the project, signaling the government’s serious commitment to enhancing Kenya’s aviation infrastructure.
In his statement, Mudavadi emphasized the significance of BUCG’s experience and knowledge, noting that their previous projects align closely with Kenya’s strategic goals for the JKIA expansion. “They shared insights from their 42 years of experience building over 30 airport terminals, runways, and specialized aviation facilities worldwide,” Mudavadi said.
The JKIA expansion is a critical component of Kenya’s broader infrastructure goals, but it comes after a setback involving the controversial Adani deal. Months ago, the government canceled the agreement with Adani Group to take over the management of JKIA, following legal issues surrounding the company’s director and a corruption case in the United States.
However, the cancellation has not stopped Kenya from pushing forward with its ambitious infrastructure projects. Just days prior, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced that the government would reopen the bidding process for the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) project, another deal that had been affected by the Adani debacle.
Kenya is now seeking private investors for a $245 million high-voltage transmission line project, a critical effort to address the country’s significant infrastructure financing gap. This project, which will replace the canceled Adani deal, is expected to start in 2026 and be completed by 2029.
Musalia Mudavadi’s engagement with BUCG is just one of several major outcomes of the President’s China visit. In addition to the airport talks, President Ruto has secured a multi-billion-dollar deal for the construction of a new Foreign Affairs complex in Nairobi. This agreement, expected to be finalized in meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, further strengthens the relationship between Kenya and China.
As Kenya continues to look for innovative ways to finance its major infrastructure projects, the collaboration with BUCG represents an important step forward in modernizing JKIA and expanding the country’s global aviation footprint.
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Mudavadi Announces Shift to China for JKIA Expansion Following Adani Deal Collapse
