Following demands by area residents, Malindi International Airport is set to be expanded in an effort to improve its standards, as it handles countless domestic and international tourists every year.
The National Land Commission (NLC), on behalf of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), communicated its intention to acquire additional parcels of land to facilitate the airport’s expansion.
Through a gazette notice, NLC invited individuals and organisations set to be affected to come forward for compensation as they accelerate plans to expand the airport.
“In pursuance of section 112 of the Land Act, 2012, Part VIII and further to Gazette Notice Nos. 339 and 3020 of 2017, 2677 of 2018, 2997 of 2019 and in complying with Land Acquisition Tribunal Orders Case Number: TRLAA/E001/2024 dated 8th February 2024, the National Land Commission, on behalf of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), regazettes its intention to acquire the following parcels of land for the expansion of Malindi Airport,” the notice read.
The airport’s expansion has been a debated topic for a while, with the government committing up to KSh 5 billion for scaling up the airport but with nothing to show for it.
In its expansion plans, the extension of the runway, the building of a fence, and the construction of a parking facility were the main areas of focus. If achieved, runway 17/35 would be extended to 2,500 metres (8,202 ft), a perimeter fence of 7.5 kilometres would be built, and a parking facility accommodating up to 500 vehicles would be completed.
The anticipated benefits of the expansion include attracting direct international flights, creating employment opportunities, and boosting tourism-related businesses. However, efforts to make progress have been marred by disputes between landowners and the government over compensation.
The clamour for the airport’s expansion gained momentum after a deadly aircraft crash at the airport claimed three lives, with many area residents attributing the accident to the airport’s short runway.
On Friday, January 10, 2025, a privately owned Cessna 172 aircraft, registration 5Y-CDC, crashed near Kwa-Chocha, adjacent to Royal Plaza in Malindi. It was reported that the flight crew on board were safe and sustained no injuries, although, tragically, there were at least three fatalities.
The bodies of the three were seen lying on the side of the road, not far from the wreckage of the plane. Among the casualties were a local headteacher and a child.
Aside from the Malindi Airport expansion, NLC also issued a notice informing the public of the government’s intention to acquire more land for the Standard Gauge Railway Line Phase 2A in the area along Nairobi-Naivasha.
The land acquisition comes amid the government’s recent announcement that the construction of the SGR extension from Kenya to Uganda, at a cost of KSh 648 billion funded by the Chinese government, is set to begin.
According to the Principal Secretary (PS) for Transport, Mohammed Daghar, the project will extend the rail system from Naivasha to Malaba.
The project, which is expected to take four years, is scheduled to begin this year and will connect Kenya with Uganda, the DRC, South Sudan, and Rwanda.
