Expansion of the Nanyuki Airstrip is expected to be completed in October this year allowing the facility to accommodate bigger passenger aircraft, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Acting Managing Director (MD), Alex Gitari, said.
Speaking when he led a high powered delegation from KAA and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) on an inspection tour of the facility, Gitari said that 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 per cent 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,” he said
The MD noted that the ongoing rainfall had slightly delayed graveling works on the runway and urged the construction company to ensure they make up for the lost time by scaling up their efforts on the project.
“One of the points that we have agreed with the contractor, today, is that 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,” Gitari said. He further added that the rehabilitation exercise is necessary to ensure that the capacity and the potential of this airstrip to handle tourism and trade was enhanced.
“Once the expansion is completed, we shall have tourists fly from Nanyuki to Maasai Mara, Serengeti in Tanzania, Mombasa and other parts as well,” Gitari said.
Kiu Construction Company Managing Director, Kariuki Theuri, who are undertaking the expansion said 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.
By Martin Munyi
