State revamps Garissa Airstrip, runway set for extension

The government will refurbish the Garissa Airstrip in a two-phase programme that will see its runway extended.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced this on Wednesday, saying the Ministry of Roads and Transport, under The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), had already launched phase one, with the contractor on site.

He spoke after inspecting the runway, accompanied by government officials including Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, Roads and Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar and Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed.

Aden said phase one entails completing a perimeter fence, and building car parks, a sanitation area, the gate and other infrastructure. It is in this phase that the government will extend the runway from 1.2 to 1.5 metres, he said, adding they are determined to ensure the airstrip has all the facilities it needs. He warned locals against encroaching further on the airstrip.

The minister noted that the project is a joint initiative by the national and county governments, with the devolved units working on the terminals.

"It has taken long because we had to secure the place the national government would take to collaborate with the county government," said Duale.

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama said they will ensure the project's completion as it is "a very important initiative".

"We will, in the fastest time possible, build the terminal while the KAA will help us construct the runway and the perimeter fence. We are happy this airstrip will get a facelift," Nathif said.

PS Mohamed regretted that the Garissa Airstrip had never been properly maintained despite being the oldest, having been commissioned in 1984. He underlined, however, that the work will be finished.

"We are committed to fair distribution of resources all over the country. We also emphasise that when we take up a project we see to its completion," he said.