The Kitale Airstrip in Trans Nzoia County has been earmarked for a major face lift as the government sets up funds to enable the Kenya Airways Authority to construct a new runway at the facility. Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Kitale branch manager Martin Juma said that the runway that spans 1.48 Kilometers will allow more aircrafts’ ins and outs.
Juma further said that the refurbishments expected to commence once funds are released from the Treasury would include a longer asphalt runway, taxiway and a modern apron for parking of aircrafts. The
current runway in use at the facility has 1.3 Kilometers of tarmacked surface.
Speaking at the airstrip during a briefing meeting after witnessing the unveiling of a new aircraft, Juma said the upgrade is set to start although he declined to disclose how much the refurbishments would cost the government.
National Assembly Committee Transport Chair David Pkossing who was accompanied by the Trans Nzoia County CEC for Tourism, Sports, Culture Aggrey Chemonges observed that the refurbishments once complete would go a long way in boosting the tourism potential of Trans Nzoia County and the entire maize-growing to boost its economic growth. “A number of airlines have had stopped flights to Kitale airstrip due to the poor state of the runway and most have opted to use the Eldoret International airport while ferrying passengers. That’s why we as a committee have given Kitale priority in refurbishment works in order to reverse the trend,” Pkossing said.
Pkosing however warned the airstrip’s land grabbers who he said have been operating through shoddy deals and erected structures terming the move as ill advised and claimed the government will repossess back illegally acquired land that is held by some grabbers.
“I want to assure residents of Trans Nzoia that the government will repossess the illegally acquired land from some grabbers without paying them any cent, let them be warned.”
On his part, the County CEC Aggrey Chemonges said the County government is working together with the Kenya Airports Authority to make sure illegally acquired land is repossessed stating that the County Governor Patrick Khaemba has already held meetings with the administration of the KAA on the issue.
Chemonges, who represented Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba, said that the County government is committed to upgrade the airstrip which he said once complete, will enable tourists to enjoy major tourism attractions in the region.
Stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality industry present noted that the region was yet to exploit its full potential in the tourism sector and called for a speedy upgrade of the local airstrip.