Sh10bn international airport to be built in Embu

A Sh10 billion international airport is set to be built in Embu, Governor Martin Wambora has announced.

Mr Wambora said his administration was working with the national government to extend the airstrip at Don Bosco and transform it into international standards.

A group of foreign investors, he said, had agreed to elevate the airstrip for commercial purposes.

He said a concept paper was already being worked on by the Ministry of Transport that will see the airstrip’s runway extended from the current 1.5 kilometres to four kilometres.

In an interview with the Nation in his office on Thursday, Mr Wambora said the airstrip was currently being used for “other purposes” but had commenced talks with the national government to release it.

He said the completed airport would have terminal buildings, warehouses, hangars, aprons and free trade zone.

Asked if the Sh10 billion was available, an upbeat Mr Wambora said: “The money will be found.”

The Embu Airstrip is situated approximately 10 minutes by road South East of Embu’s central business district, along the Embu-Kiritiri Highway.

Mr Wambora said the construction would begin next year to ease transport into the county and boost trade.

He said the county had embraced value addition of coffee, macadamia and other agricultural produce that were attracting international markets.

“We have received potential partners who are ready to develop it. The money will be found, they are waiting for a concept paper with the assistance of Ministry of Transport. We want to shift the kind of activities that are going on there to Nyaribo in Nyeri County,” he said.

He said the county had wanted to upgrade the airstrip but the foreign investors pushed for it to be an international gateway.

“The investors said they are interested in an international airport,” the former Kenya Airports Authority chairman said.

If completed, the Embu Airport will be Kenya’s seventh international gateway after Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Mombasa’s Moi, Kisumu’s Moi, Eldoret, Wajir and Isiolo.

The Wajir International Airport is currently mainly used by Kenya Defence Forces while the Isiolo International Airport is awaiting official opening.

The Embu international gateway will be a big boost to horticulture and other producers in the county whose economy mainly relies on farming.

The Governor also announced plans to upgrade the Embu Stadium to international standards at a Sh100million venture involving private investors.

He said the stadium has already consumed Sh80 million but still required further upgrade.

On the development of the local road network, Mr Wambora said they were building an asphalt plant to reduce the cost of building tarmacked toads.

He said the county government had already built 18 kilometres of tarmac road and was targeting a further 106 kilometres to be completed by the end of next year.

Mr Wambora appealed to Embu residents to invest in the county to create jobs and boost locals’ economy.