Sh5.6b Malindi airport expansion to begin next financial year
Malindi Airport Manager Walter Agong (left), Transport PS Irungu Nyakera (second right), Mr Michael Muchiri from the ministry and Kenya Airports Authority Ag Managing Director Nicholas Bodo (right) during a tour of the Malindi Airport on September 5, 2016. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Transport PS Irungu Nyakera said the government will expand the airport to enable it handle direct international flights and revive tourism in Kilifi County.
- Mr Nyakera said the government had already allocated Sh400 million this financial year to compensate those whose land has been acquired for the project.
- On phase two of the airport expansion project, 400 acres of land is required for the extension of the runway from 1.4km to 2.5km.
The expansion of the Malindi airport is expected to begin in the next financial year at a cost of Sh5.6 billion.
Transport Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera said the government will expand the airport to enable it handle direct international flights in a bid to revive tourism in Kilifi County.
“Over the years, there has been much talk about the expansion of the airport, the government wants to speed up the project so that it can benefit Malindi residents whose livelihood depend on tourism,” Mr Nyakera said.
Speaking at Malindi airport on Monday after inspection of the ongoing expansion, Mr Nyakera said the government had already allocated Sh400 million this financial year to compensate those whose land has been acquired for the project.
About 62 households will be compensated for the 25 acres of land to be acquired for the expansion of the hangar, car park and the airport’s business area.
On phase two of the airport expansion project, he said 400 acres of land is required for the extension of the runway from 1.4km to 2.5km.
The extension of the runway , which is expected to accommodate bigger aircrafts such as Boeing 737- 600 series with a capacity of 150 passengers, is estimated to cost Sh2 billion upon completion.
EXPANDING APRON
“We expect the construction of the runway to begin in the next financial year when the government will earmark a budget for the project,” he said.
Currently, the PS said, the government is expanding the apron, 7.5km security fence and a car park at a cost of Sh300 million.
He noted that the ongoing project, which is expected to be complete in December, was 48 per cent complete.
Kenya Airports Authority acting managing director Nicholas Bodo called on Malindi residents to support the airport expansion project.
“To sustain tourism in Malindi, there is need for direct flights from Europe to boost international tourist arrivals,” he said.
“This can only happen if locals can pave the way for the expansion of the runway. We require land to enable us construct a big runway which can allow big planes to land,” he added.
According to Malindi Airport manager Walter Agong, the facility can only handle aircraft with a capacity of 90 passengers.
Currently, only local airlines such as Jambojet, Fly540 and SAX operate flights to the airport.
Last year, the airport received 150,000 passengers but upon expansion, the facility is expected to receive 400,000 passengers by 2020.
At the moment, only two charter airlines from Italy, Meridiana Fly and Neosair operate two flights each to Moi International Airport, Mombasa.
Over the years, hoteliers in Malindi and Watamu have been lobbying for the expansion of the runway to enable the airport handle direct flights from Europe.
