Construction of long-awaited Sh3bn Nakuru airport begins
Construction of the much-awaited Nakuru Airport has finally begun, paving the way for commencement of civilian operations within the Kenya Defence Forces barracks.
The Nakuru Airport will be the end result of a Sh3 billion upgrade of the Lanet Airstrip, which currently serves the military. The project will convert the airstrip into a civilian airport.
The airstrip, which is next to the Kenya Military Academy – about 10 kilometres from Nakuru town will be upgraded in three phases in partnership with the county government.
“Under this arrangement, we shall convert the military facility into a public utility available for use by civilian aircraft,” Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui said.
The project, whose groundbreaking was scheduled for 2014, was to be located on 642 acres in the Pipeline area – about 15 kilometres from Nakuru town on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
The county had proposed two other sites: Naivasha and Njoro. The Naivasha site was found to be an inappropriate choice while the latter was rejected due to poor terrain.
The first phase of the project involves construction of a 1.7-kilometre runway; erection of a fence; construction of taxiways and terminals; a military lounge; air rescue centre; as well as military and civilian gates.
It will be completed next year at a cost of Sh406 million. Phase Two will include an extension of Phase One to accommodate larger aircraft.
The upgrade will eventually enable flights to start and connect Nakuru to East Africa.
Ultimately, the airport’s runway will be extended to 3.1 kilometres and widened to 30 metres.
“Flower farmers, especially in Naivasha, will have a chance to exploit a huge market by increasing their exports to destinations, such as Europe and the US,” said Mr Kinyanjui.
Nakuru accounts for 70 per cent of Kenya’s flower exports and companies currently rely on refrigerated trucks to ferry flowers to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
The airport will serve both military and civilian passengers once accomplished.
According to Transport Secretary James Macharia, the new airport will promote tourism while easing transportation of farm produce from the county to international markets.
“Works on the Lanet Airport, which entails extending the current runway from 1.1 kilometres to 1.7 kilometres will be completed by June next year,” he said.
