Residents of Kakamega County are urging the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to rehabilitate the Kakamega Airstrip to support hundreds of businesses that once depended on flight operations. This call comes just a week after budget airline Skyward Express announced it would suspend flights to Kakamega due to the deteriorating condition of the runway, which had fallen into disrepair barely two years after renovations were completed at a cost of over Ksh.174 million, commissioned by President William Ruto.
Skyward Express stated that the runway no longer met their safety standards, forcing them to temporarily halt flights. This decision has affected both passengers and local businesses.
“Back then, businesses were moving smoothly. I had a friend who would say he was going to Nairobi for work documents, and after 45 minutes, he’d tell you, ‘Yes, I’ve arrived, and business is continuing,'” said Kakamega resident Hillary Ambale in an interview with Citizen TV.
Isaac Mutiso, a trader, added, “Now that it’s closed, you have to drive from Kakamega to Nairobi, which takes almost ten hours. It makes things difficult, even for meetings you were supposed to attend.”
Royland Anyika, another resident, noted, “We’re out of work now. If you tell a customer there’s an airstrip and they want to go, they say they would, but it’s closed. You have to take them to places like Mumias, and when you look at the money they give you, it’s just a loss.”
In December 2022, President William Ruto commissioned the runway, taxiway, and an expanded apron at the airstrip following rehabilitation by the KAA, which cost Ksh.174.4 million. During his 2023 development tour of the Western region, the president also revealed plans to expand the runway to accommodate larger aircraft.
The KAA has acknowledged the poor condition of the runway and announced that repairs costing Ksh.7 million will begin on October 10th. Engineers will also conduct an audit of the initial work to assess if it met required standards, with further repairs planned.
“We acknowledge the poor state of the runway at the Kakamega Airstrip, which has been caused by the weight of the aircraft. Engineers will audit the work done to determine whether it met the required standards. A contractor will be on-site from October 10th to begin remedial repairs,” said KAA Corporate Communications Manager Angela Mite.
