Isiolo International Airport is set for a major facelift, with the government seeking Ksh 4.8 billion to rehabilitate and expand the facility in a bid to fully operationalize it in the next financial year.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the funding, being sought from the National Treasury, will go towards addressing the runway challenges that have left the airport largely underutilized. Currently, the 1.4-kilometer runway is unusable due to persistent flooding, rendering it unfit for large aircraft.
“The upgrade will see the runway extended to 3.5 kilometers to accommodate international flights and support the broader LAPSSET corridor ambitions,” said Chirchir.
Isiolo town is one of three locations earmarked as resort cities under the multi-billion shilling Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor, a flagship regional integration and development project. However, the airport, commissioned in 2017, has struggled to attract regular commercial traffic due to inadequate infrastructure.
The proposed upgrade is expected to transform Isiolo into a key aviation and logistics hub for northern Kenya and neighboring regions, stimulating trade, tourism, and investment.
Chirchir also revealed plans to revamp Eldoret International Airport to enhance its capacity for horticultural exports, a key economic activity in the agriculturally rich Rift Valley region.
“We are also seeking additional allocations for the upgrade and maintenance of 440 airstrips countrywide, to improve accessibility and enhance regional development,” he added.
The bold infrastructure plan underscores the government’s commitment to unlocking the economic potential of underutilized aviation assets, positioning Kenya as a strategic regional transport and logistics center.