ISIOLO,Kenya,Aug 31 – The Isiolo International Airport was termed a game changer by the government when it was first unveiled by president Uhuru Kenyatta on July,23, 2017. Nearly four years later, the Sh3 billion installation is yet to accomplish what it was intended to do.
A site visit Monday by Principal Secretary in the State Department of Transport Solomon Kitunguu and the Managing Director, Kenya Airports Authority Alex Gitari revealed that much is yet to be done in order for the airport to become operational.
The government now says that the facility which was set to resume operations in July after numerous failed attempts will remain closed after the contractor tasked with conducting several repair jobs failed to meet the stipulated deadline.
“The contractor did a very poor job and eventually run away from the job, this eventually resulted to the airport being closed. We inspected the facility but have since kicked off the process of procuring another contractor and we hope by December this work will be done and the airport will be operational,” said PS Kitunguu.
Kitunguu said that the project is a major infrastructure expected to boost the country’s economy and in particular attract local investment in Isiolo and Meru counties.
“While it remains closed we are not getting the gains we anticipated when we made the big investment in this county,” he said.
The previous contractor had been tasked to extend the airport runway from 1.4 Kilometres to 2.5 Kilometres as well as construct cargo shades at the facility. This was expected to be completed by July this year.
The cargo shed at the Isiolo International Airport is being constructed at a cost of Sh20.9 million
The runway will meanwhile cost taxpayers at least Sh20 million.
A control tower is also yet to be fully set up while the lack of aviation lights on the runway has hampered planes from landing particularly at night due to glaring visibility challenges.
Managing Director, Kenya Airports Authority Alex Gitari said that the Cargo Shade is at least 55 per cent completed and remain confident the new timelines will be met and as a result spur economic growth in the county.
“Our target is December and we are certain this time round it will be completed. Once we get more funds, we will proceed with extending the runway and this will believe will solve all the problems we are facing as the airport becomes fully operational,” said Gitari.
Meanwhile Isiolo Governor Mohamed Kuti said the entire Northern Kenya region remains excited for the completion of the projected which will no doubt change the fortunes of the once marginalized region.
“We finally hope that fund will be found in good time so that necessary work is done and the airport becomes fully operational. both Isiolo and Meru county were very excited at the prospects the airport would being,however investors are still concerned since years later nothing is operational. We however hope things will setback to track and investors can come here particularly since onset of COVID-19 business were affected,” said Kuti.
The airport is expected to facilitate the transport of perishable goods such as from Khat/miraa from the neighboring Meru County.
Also part of the national expectation is the transportation of flowers from Meru and Laikipia County as well as meat products from the region set for the export markets.
The project which is part of the national infrastructure plan is said to be part of the ambitious Lamu Port South Sudan and Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor project.
Once the project is complete various commercial flights that had initially committed themselves and subsequently withdrew from the route are expected to use the airport in turn boosting the country’s economy.
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