Expansion works of Nanyuki Airstrip in Laikipia County is on track. Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Acting Managing Director (MD), Alex Gitari confirmed the report while leading delegation from KAA and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) on an inspection tour of the facility.
The project aims at accommodating bigger passenger aircraft. The government had injected Sh330 million to construct a new 1.5-kilometer runway, a taxiway that can accommodate 52 seater planes, and a bigger apron where the aircraft would be parked once they land. Gitari said that the contractor had so far done over 30% of the work and expressed confidence that he would finish the works on time.
“Am happy we are on course and we shall be able to deliver the project as expected later in the year. Once the airport is complete, more operators are will willing to introduce daily trips to Nanyuki with the Airstrips expected to rival Wilson and Ukunda in terms of domestic flights. We shall have tourists fly from Nanyuki to Maasai Mara, Serengeti in Tanzania, Mombasa and other parts as well,” said MD, Alex Gitari.
Challenges experienced
Nanyuki Airstrip Manager David Kyule said engineers at the Airstrip are assembling planes locally and so far they have been able to assembly four planes including an Airbus Helicopter owned by Tropic air one of the earliest operators at the airfield. Expansion works would be complete by October this year.
Kiu Construction Company Managing Director, Kariuki Theuri, who are undertaking the expansion observed that the heavy rains had slowed down the works since the ground was soggy but assured that once they subside he would deploy more manpower to ensure he delivers the project as expected.
“Once the weather improves, there’s going to be an accelerated programme to make up for the time that may have been lost due the rains being experienced here so that we are able to deliver this project by October this year,” said Mr. Gitari.
