KAA to extend Kisumu Airport runway by 300 metres

By Kepher Otieno

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) will extend its three kilometer runway as part of the ongoing expansion of Kisumu Airport, which expected to end in August this year.

"The government has accepted the request by leaders and the run way, which initially was two kilometers and then extended to three will finally be pushed to 3.3 kilometres,"said transport Permanent secretary, Dr Cyrus Njiru while touring the facility.

Since the runbway will now go beyond to the Lake, families living adjacent to the Airport will have to be relocated or compensated by KAA.

KAA Managing Director, George Muhoho announced that families who will be affected by the expansion owill receive compensation to the tune of Sh100 million.

He said evaluation done had earmarked some Sh127 million for settling claims by the affected families.

So far, the expansion is more than is 70 per cent complete and by August next year, the facility will be fully operational, Muhoho said.

The PS challenged Kisumu Municipal Council to embark on modernisation of the local roads networks and lines so that by the time the Airport is complete, traffic jam are tackled.

Traffic jam

" We don’t want a case where one will take 45 minutes flying from Nairobi and take almost similar hour or more on the road due to traffic jam and the council must effect that plan now before the town population bursts," said Njiru.

The Airport expansion is set to cost Sh2.9 billion.

The contract was awarded to Chinese Overseas construction Company.

The airport expects the new runway and terminal to significantly increase its capacity.

After the Sh2.9 billion expansion, it will be bigger than Wilson Airport in Nairobi, and will be able to handle four Boeings, and up to seven smaller planes at once.

The PS said it would be the transport hub of Kisumu and asked residents to take advantage of its fruits.