The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) made Sh. 19 billion in revenue in the full year ended December 2023. This has been revealed by confidential documents that were tabled in Parliament last week by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir.

According to the documents, this revenue was generated from aeronautical and non-aeronautical activities at the airport.

The biggest chunk of the revenue was generated from landing, parking and air passenger service charges. These accounted for a total revenue of Sh. 14 billion. Non-aeronautical revenue activities contributed the remainder of Sh. 5 billion which included car parking fees, duty-free, general retail, cargo, and advertising.

The JKIA stood tall against other local airports, with its valuation coming in at Sh. 1.1 trillion according to the Airports Valuation report from the Transport ministry’s department of public works.

Out of this valuation, land owned by JKIA was valued at Sh. 937 billion, buildings were valued at Sh. 20 billion, pavement Sh. 145 billion and other infrastructure was valued at Sh. 4 billion.

In contrast, the Moi International Airport in Mombasa was valued at Sh. 23.7 billion. The airports in Eldoret and Kisumu were valued at Sh. 10.8 billion and Sh. 9.9 billion respectively.

These revelations come in the face of opposition against a decision by the government to lease the JKIA to an Indian firm known as Adani Airport Holdings for a period of thirty years.

Ethiopian Airlines signs deal for Sh. 780 billion brand new largest airport in Africa

As part of its takeover, the Adani Group is targeting some 30 acres of land near the airport. Adani Airports says that it is aiming to develop luxury hotels and other commercial buildings on this land after taking over the JKIA.

The company says that 28 acres out of the 30 acres shall be reserved for hospitality. The two remaining acres shall be reserved for retail, food, and beverages.

Adani Airports claims that it shall build three hotels next to the JKIA. These hotels shall include four and five star resort hotels with 250 and 200 rooms. It further claims that it shall build a three-star hotel with 150 rooms.