Airport to be established in Trans Mara

By Leonard Korir

When a troop of British soldiers entered Olontare area of Trans Mara District in early 1970 with a sophisticated equipment, they shocked many locals.

Driving tank-like machines, the white men embarked on the construction of Kilgoris-Ankaga road, which links the current Trans Mara-Rongo districts.

They jetted in various aircraft ferrying different construction equipment and landed in an open ground near Keyian group ranch (the ground is the newly commissioned site for Olontare Airport).

Oblivious of what the future held for them, the locals named the landing area Enkiwancha endege, aircraft landing area.

According to one of the local elders, Michael ole Seurei, the white men secretly moved out of the area at night soon after the completion of the two-year road construction project.

Agricultural zone

More than three decades have elapsed since the departure of the white contractors, but the name of their landing area still remains to date, with locals utilising it as a grazing field for their animals.

The Maasai elders later decided to set aside the land in late 1970s as a community utility land and it is only a primary school that has been constructed in a section of the land.

However, when a powerful delegation of Government officials from the Ministry of Transport toured the area this week and approved the site as fit for the construction of an airport, there was a mixture of joy and disbelief.

Some termed the project a prophesy that has finally come to pass. Led by Sikawa ward councillor Moses ole Naula, the locals said the field has been held sacrosanct and has never been disputed over by any local people.

The more than 40 acre parcel of land under the Olontare Adjudication section bears its own title deed and is situated in a rich agricultural zone known for large scale tea, sugarcane and maize production

"I think this was a God given project for the Maasai people who have since safeguarded the name and sanctity of this site now going to be a modern airport," said Mr Naula amidst applauses from the delighted crowd.

Naula said time was ripe for the Maasai community to host one of the most vital means of transport.

Leaders from the Abagusii, Luo and Maasai communities mooted the project that had initially been proposed for Nyangusu area along Trans Mara-Gucha districts border two years ago when President Kibaki commissioned Keroka-Nyangusu road.

However, the Nyangusu site was dropped later after the initial evaluation indicated that it was not viable due to its manoeuvrability and its swampy nature.

Environment management

While leaders from the Abagusii community lobbied for the project to be constructed along the Gucha-Trans Mara border, the Maasai said unlike the Kisii region, they had sufficient land to accommodate an international airport.

Politics and environmental factors took centre stage with the Maasai’s led by area MP Gideon Konchellah rejecting the Nyangusu site, saying it would interfere with the source of Elangata Engima and Engare Ongituak rivers.

Konchellah said the community was not consulted on the Nyangusu site. "Before such a facility is put up leaders from both districts must be consulted extensively, including experts from National Environment Management Authority," said Konchellah at a rally addressed by the President.

Other civic leaders from Trans Mara rallied behind Konchellah and suggested that the Government should have opted to upgrade the Mutenkuar airstrip in Kilgoris instead of initiating a new project.

"We cannot afford to lose the source of our livelihood (river) in the name of an airstrip," said Ololchani ward councillor, Stephen ole Kingi.

Horticulture farmers

However, speaking at the same venue at Nyangusu market, President Kibaki dismissed Mr Konchellah’s sentiments, terming him a stumbling block to the spirit of development.

The Head of State had challenged those opposing the project to come out clearly before the work started. "We have already decided the location of the airstrip and anybody against it must be having a hidden agenda," he said.

However, since then, the project had stalled but recently resurfaced during the recent visit by President Kibaki in Kisii County.

Leaders from Kisii region had proposed Suneka airstrip to be expanded to the status of an airport but its evaluation also found out that there was no land for expansion and the area’s terrain is an impediment.

But in what appeared as a contest that tilted towards Konchellah’s side, the leaders from the region finally agreed on the new Olontare site.

The new site, however, has also not escaped the clan politics among the Maasai community with each wanting to have the facility in their territory.

This has witnessed politics peddled against Konchellah as having seized the project from Mutenkuar inhabited by the Moitanik clan and took it to the area largely inhabited by his Uasin Gishu clan.

According to Mr Elias ole Musunkui, a local youth leader, the Government should have upgraded Mutenkuar airstrip, whose location would efficiently serve tourism in the nearby Masai Mara National Game Reserve and the rich agricultural sector in the area.

But, politics aside, Konchellah said the project would benefit the entire South Nyanza and South Rift regions.

Horticulture farmers in the area known for large production of traditional vegetables such as managu and saga are set to benefit from the project.

Mr Peter Otieno, who has been in the business for several years, said residents welcome the idea as the new transport would reduce the loss they always incur in road transport.

Some of the farmers export vegetables to USA and Britain.

"Due to the poor state of our roads, most of these perishable vegetables wilt on the way and reduce market value. But now with the coming of the airport here, we will make a lot of money," said Otieno.

During the initial evaluation of the site last week in Trans Mara by a delegation of Government officials, Transport Assistant minister Simon Ogari said the airport would increase the volume of trade in the entire region and open up new job opportunities for the locals.

Preliminary evaluation

Ogari said the coming up of the facility would also lead to the improvement of the road network in the area.

Ogari was accompanied by Transport PS Cyrus Njiru, Kilgoris MP Gideon Konchellah, Kenya Airports Authority Managing Director Stephen Gichuki and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Managing Director Peter Mukui.

"We have assessed the site and our preliminary evaluation indicates it is suitable for construction of a modern airport. Civil aviation experts will conduct a detailed survey and come up with a plan next week," said Njiru.

However, local leaders led by Konchellah appealed to the Government to assist in the relocation of Olontare Primary School, which is situated on the site.

Five counties comprising of 24 constituencies are expected to benefit immensely from the project. The counties include Narok, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori and Bomet.

Affordable means

"The site was carefully selected to benefit a big region, which is consistent with the ministry’s policy to make air transport a preferable and affordable means of transport in the country," said Mr Njiru.

He said the decentralisation of air facilities is part of the ministry’s efforts to demystify air travel as exclusively for the rich and instead make it an all-accommodating means of transport.

Ogari said the ministry is currently working on plans to construct airstrips in each of the 47 counties in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Konchellah said the community was willing to donate more land for the project as long as there is proper compensation.

The legislator also observed that the project would be an integrating factor for the Abagusii, Maasai, Kalenjin and Luo communities.

"We will be dedicating our energies on how to utilise this noble facility. The unity has begun with the aim of building a strong regional economic base for now and for generations to come," said Konchellah.