Uhuru to commission Isiolo International Airport early next year

President Uhuru Kenyatta will early next year commission the Sh2.7 billion Isiolo International Airport, it has been announced.

Transport Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera, who inspected the ongoing construction on Monday, said the airport will start its operations once President Kenyatta officially opens it.

The PS directed the contractor building the airport to finish the work within two months.

The airport, he said, needs to be commissioned as "soon as possible".

"Within the next six to eight weeks, all the critical elements should be complete," he said.

Mr Nyakera, who also paid a courtesy call on Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo, said the airport will be one of the biggest in the country, with a 2.5 kilometre runway and a modern terminal building.

RUNWAY EXTENDED

The 1.4 kilometre runway that has been completed is to be extended to 2.5 kilometres to enable bigger aircraft to use the airport.

"The terminal building has been done well. It is one of biggest in the country," the PS said.

Mr Nyakera was accompanied by Kenya Airports Authority acting Managing Director Nicholas Bodo.

He said a number of airlines had expressed interest in using the airport once it is completed. The airport is located on the border of Meru and Isiolo counties.

The airport is Kenya’s sixth international gateway after Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi), Moi (Mombasa), Moi (Kisumu), Eldoret and Wajir.

The airport is expected to promote growth and unlock the economic potential of the region and the neighbouring pastoralist areas.

Isiolo is slowly becoming a major centre of interest for trade and tourism due to its central location in the country.

The town is near the Shaba and Samburu game reserves and is also gearing up to be made a resort city under the Vision 2030 projects.

The Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba National reserves lie north of the town, while Lewa Downs Reserve is to the south.