The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) on Monday, June 29, announced the commencement of a Ksh242 million upgrading project of the Migori Airstrip, also known as Lichota Airstrip
KAA Western Region manager Selina Gor announced that the renovation works would be completed in 12 months,
Speaking at the site alongside a team of senior KAA officials and the Migori County Security team members, Gor said the Authority had already identified a contractor, adding that the team would bring their equipment to the airstrip in the next few days, and begin the major upgrade works.
The renovation is to be carried out in two phases and will include the extension of the current 1.1km runway to 1.2km and tarmacking it to required sector standards.
“Within this phase (1), we are also going to construct a modern apron, a taxiway, a terminal building and all that goes with it,” Gor stated.
Phase two will include major improvements that will allow the airstrip to accommodate bigger aircraft and more passengers, she said.
The KAA Western Region manager said that the airstrip was earmarked for an upgrade for being in a region that serves as an important link between Kenya and Tanzania.
Lichota Airstrip sits near Migori Town whose cosmopolitan nature has made it among the fastest growing towns in the country.
Once upgraded, the airtstrip is expected to ease transport logistics for tourists heading to nearby attractions such as the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, the Serengeti Game parks in Tanzania as well as the archeological sites in Migori such as Thim Lich Ohinga.
Migori County Commissioner Joseph Rotich, who accompanied Gor to the airstrip said that the project would be a huge boost for the county as it would boost trade and tourism significantly.
“Hospitality facilities in the area will enjoy a revamped business with an increase in tourist passengers, and that will be a boon for the region’s economy,” he said.
There are five main airports in Kenya, namely, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Eldoret International Airport (EDL), Moi International Airport, Mombasa and Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
The Malindi Airstrip is one of the more popular ones, with the coastal town one of the most toured destinations prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
