Failure to secure funding for a megaterminal project in Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airpoirt (JKIA) has forced the country to invest in a temporary terminal to cater for a growing number of passengers.

In a bid to make JKIA the connecting hub for East Africa, Kenya unveiled plans to build a $655-million terminal, dubbed the Greenfield Terminal, whose construction was slated to start in June this year.

The project was, however, hit by procurement controversies that were only resolved towards the end of last year, with the contract awarded to a joint venture involving three Chinese companies.

But efforts to secure funds from global financial institutions have not been successful, which has forced the Kenyan government to invest $12-million in a temporary terminal. The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has now floated a tender for the design and building of the temporary structure.
The new terminal, which should be constructed in 18 months, will have a floor area of 8 000 m2 on two levels. It will be built of prefabricated wall panels, quick-erect steel/aluminum frames and insulated roof panels. It will have 26 check-in positions, four remote gate lounges and associated utilities.
The new temporary terminal is expected to ease congestion at the airport while the Kenya government continues look for funds to build the Greenfield Terminal, one of the flagship projects under Kenya’s Vision 2030 development blueprint.

Besides enhancing JKIA’s passenger handling capacity, it will improve the efficiency of hub operations at the airport. It will have a floor area of about 178 000 m2 on four levels.
Projections show the number of passengers using JKIA will increase from the current 5.4-million to 35.3-million a year by 2020, while the volume of cargo handled will increase from 227 165 t to 939 650 t a year during the same period.