Malindi airport runway upgrade set for May completion

The ongoing resurfacing works at the Malindi International Airport /Courtesy

The runway resurfacing works at Malindi International Airport will be completed in May, the national government has announced.

The resurfacing project is part of broader expansion works at the airport, whose completion is expected to boost trade and tourism in the region.

The project also includes extending the runway from the current 1.4 kilometres to three kilometres.

Compensation for squatters is at an advanced stage.

Officials from the Government Delivery Unit (GDU), led by Olando Sitati, and the Coast Regional National Government Development Implementation, Coordination and Management Committee (NGD-RICMC), led by regional commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, expressed satisfaction with the Sh242,808,969 runway resurfacing project. They  spoke during an inspection tour of the airport on Tuesday,

Onyancha said the contractor had assured them the works would be completed in May this year.

“We are really impressed with the progress of the repair works of the runway and apron, and the process of acquiring more land is ongoing so we are able to extend the runway from 1.4 kilometres to three kilometres,” she said.

“For a long time, investors, especially from the tourism sector, have been yearning for this project, and they have our assurance the project will be done.” 

Onyancha said the airport is critical as it serves Kilifi and Tana River counties, as well as the Galana Kulalu Irrigation and Food Security Project, noting its expansion will help stabilise the economies of the two counties.

“This airport serves not only Kilifi county but also Tana River county and the Galana Kulalu Irrigation and Food Security project, and it is a very important facility even as we look at international visitors,” she said.

According to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the government requires an additional 19 acres for complementary projects.

The land has already been acquired, with authorities awaiting guidance from the National Land Commission (NLC) on compensating landowners.

KAA engineer, Moses Abuok, said the expansion will enable the airport to handle large aircraft of 787 status.

He said an environmental impact assessment has been conducted, and they are awaiting a surveyor to determine the cost and scope of the land required for the runway extension.

“The works has slightly three scopes which include milling, regulation of the main surface and laying of the wearing course and it has been able to achieve the milling and regularisation layer and currently we have begun the wearing course with the works at 60 per cent for the overall work,” he said.