US to fast-track completion of Isiolo airport

Isiolo Airport will soon have international standards following US government announcement of its commitment to fast-track completion of upgrading works.

Ambassador Margaret Whitman on Monday said the US government will ensure the facility is completed soon.

The announcement followed a meeting between the Ambassador and Isiolo Deputy Governor James Lowasa.

Lowasa noted that the airport was not being maximally utilised due to lack of enough runway, the current  lack 1.4km yet it should be up to to 2.5km.

"The completion of the facility would avert accidents caused by speeding vehicles, especially those ferrying miraa to Wilson Airport, and would decongest Kenyatta International Airport,” he said.

The completion of the Isiolo International Airport is also expected to have a significant impact on the economic development of the Upper Eastern region and improve the livelihoods of the residents.

The Deputy Governor was accompanied by Ngaremara MCA Peter Losu, Trade and Tourism executive Lawrence Mwongela, County NGO coordinator Mohammed Boru, and  Trade, Industrialisation and investment chief officer Lucy Kaburu.

Lowasa also praised  USAID for its continued support in the county, which had resulted service improvement in several sectors including health, WASH, and nutrition programmes.

Whitman also said the US looks forward to continued partnership on climate change resilience.

“The United States looks forward to continued partnership on resilience, and sustainable growth initiatives to improve livelihoods throughout Isiolo,” Ambassador Whitman said.

In the same meeting , the US delegation also met with ward planning committees from Bulapesa and Wabera, who had been empowered through USAID funding, and visited Tawakal, Sidai, and Evam poultry rearing projects in Mwangaza.

They also held a meeting with chairmen of different conservancies from Samburu, Marsabit, and Isiolo, who have benefited from the Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project aimed at removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere by implementing sustainable grazing management.

Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo in February had said the county was closely working with the national government to expand the airport runway to accommodate bigger aircraft and cargo planes, as well as make operational other privates flights.

However, he did not reveal how much it will cost to expand the airport as at now. 

Guyo said his administration had met the relevant departments to fast track the process and ensures full operationalisation of the idle facility.

He said operationalising the flights will ease transport challenges as tourists visiting Isiolo game reserves will have easy access from areas such as Mombasa and Nairobi within the shortest time.appleThe Sh2.7 billion airport was commissioned by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017 and was part of the government’s Sh2.5 trillion Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia-Transport [Lapsset] project.

The airport that straddles Meru and Isiolo counties occupies 800 acres and consists of a modern passenger terminal that can handle more than 100,000 passengers annually, including parking facilities that accommodate as many as 200 vehicles.

It has about 12 concessional shops, a restaurant, banking and forex bureau space and a taxi parking lot with a capacity of 200 cars.

The airport's cargo sheds are able to handle at least 10 tonnes of luggage.

Its apron has a capacity of seven aircraft.

The airport facility is also an important link to the new transport corridor, which the government is developing under the Lappsset corridor project.

The lack of necessary infrastructure, including aviation lights to allow planes to land and take off at night and cargo sheds, has prevented full utilisation of the airport, which has a 5000-square-metre passenger terminal.

(Edited by V. Graham)