The Kenya Airports Authority has set aside Sh200 million for the expansion of Kisumu airport as part of preparations for next year’s Africities summit.
KAA managing director Alex Gitari said they expect the work to be completed in the next two to three months.
He spoke at Kisumu International Airport during the official launch of Renegade Air flights to Kisumu.
“We have concluded the procurement process so that the contractors should be on the ground in the next two weeks or so,” Gitari said.
He said they will upgrade the infrastructure and have identified three components to work on. They include building an apron for parking of aircraft, additional lounge space within the terminal building for VIPs and a parking lot.
Gitari said they expect a lot of vehicles during the event.
“The components earmarked for the airport are Sh200 million and should we need more funds, we will be supported by our parent ministry in consultation with the Treasury," he said.
Earlier this month, the 9th edition of Africities summit was pushed by a month from April to May next year.
The conference was to be held between April 26 and 30 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium. It will now be held from May 17 to 21.
The conference will be held at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium.
The Africities Kisumu secretariat said the event was postponed as the dates coincided with important international events hosted by the UN-Habitat Board of Directors and the United Nations High-Level Council on the Global Urban Agenda.
These activities will mobilise national governments, local authorities, international organisations, civil society and other key stakeholders that are targets for Africities.
"In addition, the UN-Habitat, the African Union Commission, and the Economic Commission for Africa are key partners of UCLG-A agenda and are expected to play an important role at the summit," the statement said.
The theme of the Kisumu forum is 'The Role of Intermediary Cities of Africa in the Implementation of Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the African Union Agenda 2063'.
The agenda calls for the development of resilient dwellings that will be home to the bulk of the African population.
In preparation for the summit, Kisumu has started to construct a 6,000-seater convention centre at the ASK Showground in Mamboleo.
The convention centre is expected to be the fulcrum upon which investments in the western region will be positioned.
Edited by A.N
