COFEK Moves To Court To Block Sh375 Billion JKIA Expansion Deal
News Updated: 18 June 2026 15:04 EAT
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The Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has moved to court seeking to block the Sh375 billion expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), raising concerns over what it terms as a secretive and flawed procurement process.
In its petition, COFEK argues that the awarding of the multi-billion-shilling contract was not conducted in a transparent manner and may have violated public procurement laws and constitutional requirements on accountability and fairness.
The Sh375 billion project is aimed at expanding and modernising JKIA, Kenya’s busiest international airport, in order to increase passenger handling capacity and upgrade key aviation infrastructure.
However, the deal has sparked controversy following reports that IMC Construction Kenya, a firm linked to Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, secured a stake in the project. This development has intensified scrutiny over how the contract was structured and awarded.
Chivayo’s involvement has drawn public attention due to his controversial business profile, with critics questioning the due diligence process behind his company’s participation in such a high-value national project.
The revelations have also reignited broader debate over transparency and governance in Kenya’s large-scale public-private partnership projects, particularly those involving foreign-linked investors.
COFEK maintains that the public has a right to full disclosure of the consortium members involved in the project, as well as the financial and contractual arrangements underpinning the expansion plan.
The organisation further argues that failure to provide this information undermines constitutional principles that require openness and accountability in the use of public resources.
Civil society voices have echoed these concerns, calling for an independent review of the procurement process and the role of all firms involved in the JKIA expansion.
Questions have also been raised over the ownership structure of IMC Construction Kenya and its exact role within the wider consortium awarded the contract.
Government officials are yet to issue a detailed public response addressing the specific allegations raised in the court case, although the JKIA expansion remains a flagship infrastructure project.
The matter is now before the courts, where judges are expected to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to halt or review the implementation of the deal.
The outcome of the case is likely to have wider implications for future infrastructure contracts in Kenya, particularly those involving complex public-private partnerships and foreign investors.
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FELIX MAKONA
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