Kenya has selected a Chinese company to execute a $2.9 billion modernization project at its largest airport, two years after scrapping a similar agreement with India’s Adani Group. The shift signals growing economic ties with China amid stalled foreign infrastructure ambitions.

The original Adani deal, abandoned in 2022 due to disagreements over funding and operational terms, left Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in urgent need of upgrades. The new Chinese firm—unidentified in the report—will oversee terminal expansions, runway improvements, and technology upgrades, with financing likely involving a mix of local and state-backed loans.

This reversal underscores Kenya’s pivot toward China for critical infrastructure, a trend observed globally as nations reassess partnerships post-pandemic. The $2.9 billion investment, one of East Africa’s largest public projects, could boost Kenya’s aviation capacity, attracting regional tourism and business travel while deepening China’s influence in Africa’s economic corridors.

The move highlights Kenya’s strategic balancing act: leveraging China’s resources while avoiding overreliance on any single partner. As Kenya rebuilds its infrastructure portfolio, the Adani fallout serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of opaque concession deals.