Senators want the government to prioritise the completion of Isiolo International Airport to unlock the economic potential of the upper eastern, Northern, and Central regions. 

The lawmakers pressed Roads and Transport CS Davis Chirchir to explain why the airport is not operational yet it has gobbled millions of shillings.  

The airport is part of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor, a large-scale infrastructure project that aims to connect Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia through ports, railways, roads, and pipelines. 

Yesterday, Chirchir told the Senate plenary that Isiolo Airport is experiencing significant runway defects due to flooding caused by terrain challenges and expansive black cotton soils, which have led to low pavement classification, limiting aircraft that can operate safely. 

He explained that the runway defects present serious risks, including safety hazards, operational limitations, increased maintenance costs and potential damage to the facility’s reputation. 

Timely repairs are crucial to enhance safety, expand operational capacity, reduce long-term costs and attract more users, ensuring the facility’s long-term viability. 

To complete the airport to international standards, the government will require some Sh4.8 billion. 

“This is not a regional airport. Isiolo is an international airport that sits on the Lapsset corridor. It will open up the whole corridor to serve South Sudan, Ethiopia and parts of Northern Uganda,” said Chirchir. 

He went on: “This was a regional project, not a national project. Isiolo will be built because we need to leverage our geo-position. It is not just about Isiolo but about Kenya leveraging on that corridor.” 

Chirchir was responding to Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo who had sought to know how much money the government has allocated and utilised so far in the project for the modernisation and rehabilitation of the Isiolo International Airport. 

“Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a status update on the payment of compensation to owners of the parcels of land acquired for the project, and indicate when outstanding balances will be paid? Are there plans to also extend the runway at the airport and, if so, could the Cabinet Secretary provide timelines for the same?” posed Dullo. 

Her Meru counterpart Kathuri Murungi said the Sh4.8 billion allocated for the expansion of the Isiolo Airport is too little. 

“This is too little. The expansion of the runway is Sh1.5 billion. Accidents are a result of non-functional airports. If we can correct one issue, it will sort so many things,” he said. 

According to Chirchir, the government is keen on ensuring not only in implementation of the Lapsset project but also the other components including the Isiolo International Airport. 

He said that once the project is completed perishable goods like khat famously known as ‘miraa’, flowers, vegetables; and meat from the pastoralists will be transported using the airport.