Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has issued an update on the ongoing rehabilitation of Kabunde Airstrip in Homa Bay County.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 6, Omollo said the upgrade is part of a government initiative to enhance regional transport infrastructure.
“As part of the government's investment in transport infrastructure to enhance connectivity and open up Homa Bay County for trade and tourism, rehabilitation works are underway at Kabunde Airstrip, targeting key components including the apron, runway and taxiways Alpha and Bravo,” he said.
Omollo reported that early-stage construction activities have already made substantial progress, particularly in site preparation.
“Site preparation activities are underway, with the setting out, clearance and removal of topsoil already completed at the apron and parts of the taxiways.
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"Processing and compaction of the in-situ material is currently ongoing in preparation for the placement of selected fill, which has begun at the lower end of the apron,” he explained.
Additionally, Omollo also confirmed that efforts to repair the airstrip’s existing runway are now in motion.
“At the same time, patching works on the existing runway are being initiated, following technical instructions issued to the contractor to proceed,” he concluded.
Operated by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the airstrip plays a crucial role in enhancing regional connectivity and supporting economic development.
The airstrip underwent significant modernization in 2015, which included extending the runway to 1.2 kilometers and constructing an apron to accommodate larger aircraft.
These upgrades aimed to improve operational efficiency and reduce the reliance on Kisumu International Airport, located about 114 kilometers away, for air travel needs.
In recent developments, the government announced plans to further expand the runway to accommodate larger aircraft and enhance the airstrip's capacity.
To facilitate this project, the government has waived landing and parking fees for airlines using the airstrip, promoting air transport between Nairobi and Homa Bay .
The airstrip has seen the introduction of scheduled flights, with Renegade Air commencing services between Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and Kabunde Airstrip on June 12, 2023 .
Additionally, Great Airways Limited and Mombasa Air Safari introduced flights to Kabunde Airstrip, operating four flights per week.
