President Ruto announces plan to build new world-class airport this year

President William Ruto says the process of building a new world-class airport will begin this year, aimed at opening up Kenya to global investment and tourism.

Speaking to members of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Nairobi on Friday, the Head of State said the country’s journey towards first-world status will be unstoppable, thanks in part to the community, which has invested heavily in education and healthcare.

Ruto, during a meeting with the Dawoodi Bohra community’s spiritual leader, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, pressed the pedal on his journey to Singapore, announcing plans to add another international state-of-the-art airport to the list of airports in Kenya.

"Your Holiness, I know you use our airport. I just want to assure you that this year we will be building a new world-class airport that will support not just Kenya as a hub in our region, not just our tourism sector, but also our business people who use our airports," said Ruto.

The new airport is expected to ease congestion at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), after a previous partnership with India’s Adani Group collapsed.

The government says the facility will help increase passenger capacity from 88 million to 100 million.

President William Ruto then sought the support of the Dawoodi Bohra community in driving his Ksh.5 trillion plan to transform Kenya into a first-world country.

"We seek your support and your prayers. We are confident that with your partnership and your support, we will be able to transform our nation, to generate 10,000 megawatts of power, invest in infrastructure, and I am asking the Governor of Nairobi to ensure that the roads raised by the MP of this area are added to the list of roads to be developed," Ruto said.

On his part, Dawoodi Bohra leader Prince Dr Al Qaidjahor Ezzuddin said: "We have seen your roadmap focusing on infrastructure and jobs, and the Dawoodi community stands ready to support this mission."

The President reiterated the role of science subjects in schools in anchoring the plan to turbo-charge Kenya into the future.

"Fifty-three per cent of students joined STEM subjects. Our plan is that 60 per cent of students join STEM subjects to build a team that will drive our country into the future," said Ruto.

"The Bohra community has helped popularise cricket, thus contributing to Kenya’s sporting culture and Kenya’s sporting diplomacy," Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi stated.

Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja, added, "The values that this community holds are the same that we want in our country. We need to work together to synthesise knowledge and to look out for our brothers and sisters."

The Dawoodi Bohra community is a Shia Muslim group of Indian Gujarati origin.