Moi International Airport Gets Ksh7B Facelift [PHOTOS]

Ongoing rehabilitation works at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
Ongoing rehabilitation works at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
File

The Moi International Airport in Mombasa is undergoing major rehabilitation works to the tune of Ksh7 billion.

According to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the facelift is aimed at increasing capacity at Kenya's second-largest airport.

Speaking as Kenya Airways launched direct cargo flights from the coastal town to various destinations across the world, KAA Commercial Manager Jack Bwana revealed that the airport would also get a new cargo hangar.

"At Moi International Airport, we have already ear-marked a location where the second Ultra-Modern Cargo Handling Facility will be built and the ground breaking will shortly be done," he detailed.

Ongoing rehabilitation works at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
Ongoing rehabilitation works at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
File

The current refurbishment works are divided into three distinct parts namely:

  • Civil works which comprises of rehabilitation of the entire runway pavements.
  • Reconstruction of some sections of the taxiways and aprons.
  • Removal and replacement of pre-cast concrete slabs.

"The authority’s focus being the upgrading and expanding of the existing infrastructural facilities in order to embrace the demand for larger capacities in the market for air transportation," Bwana reiterated.

According to government records, the airport has the capacity to handle two million people annually.

The last major rehabilitation done at Moi International Airport was in 1994 by Pacific Consultants International (PCI), a Japanese Company.

KAA went on to reveal that the facelift project was funded by themselves alongside the  French Development Agency (FDA) and Kenya Airports Authority; with the consultancy service being sponsored by World Bank. 

There are five main airports in Kenya, and a number of airstrips, with the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi known as the country's main one.

The other 4 are Kisumu International Airport (KIS), Moi International Airport, Mombasa, Wilson Airport, and Eldoret International Airport (EDL).

Plans are currently are underway to expand the Ukunda Airstrip, which will be renamed Diani National Airport, and increase its capacity to accommodate larger planes and bring in more visitors to the Kenyan south coast.

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya has gone on record stating the airstrip plays a key role in promoting the tourism sector which has been affected by delays at the Likoni ferry crossing channel.

Ongoing rehabilitation works at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
Ongoing rehabilitation works at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
File
Rehabilitation works at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
Rehabilitation works at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
File