Plans are underway to upgrade Isiolo International Airport, with focus on the potential benefits it promises for the northern region of Kenya. This was stated today by the County Secretary Isiolo, Mr. Dahde Boru, during a monitoring exercise undertaken by the NEPAD/APRM Kenya secretariat led by the CEO Amb. Dr. Samori Okwiya. Accompanying the Secretariat team were stakeholders from Kenya National Highway Authority, Kenya Ports Authority and Lamu-Port-South-Sudan-Ethiopia Transit (LAPSSET) Corridor.

 

Monitoring of the Isiolo International Airport 

 

 

The Isiolo International Airport is one of the Priority flagship projects identified in the government’s long-term development policy, Kenya Vision 2030 and part of the LAPSSET Corridor Program. The Airoirt which is situated in the northern part of Kenya, is 283km by road and 200km by air away from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the Country’s largest civilian airport. It is built approximately 330HA (800 acres) site on the border of Isiolo County and Meru County.

These aforementioned plans encompasses the expansion of the existing 1.4Km runway to 3Km, to accommodate larger aircraft and increase the airport’s capacity to handle growing passenger and cargo traffic, development of an inland depot to enhance logistical operations and contribute to the efficient movement of goods and services across the region, completion of airport perimeter wall, improvement of airport drainage systems, construction of a fire station and an airport drainage system.  These plans are set to provide significant benefits among them, creation of employment, improvement of infrastructure, enhancement of security and increase in economic growth.

However, the Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) has identified operational challenges, including insufficient pavement strength and inadequate runway length, land related challenges, financing challenges for critical capital projects and dealing with stalled and incomplete projects. KAA has further come up with mitigation measures including, reconstruction of the existing runway, multi-agency approach in mediation and use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve the pending compensation disputes, securing adequate funding and need to explore partnerships wth private entities and implementation of effective project management practices including penalties for delays as a deterrent identifying non-performing contractors.

In conclusion, the monitoring of Isiolo International Airport by NEPAD/APRM Kenya Secretariat underscores the importance of infrastructure development in driving socio-economic progress. As the airport undergoes transformation, it holds the promise of unlocking the full potential of northern Kenya, fostering prosperity, and improving the quality of life for its resident