Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Wednesday, April 3, announced that the national government would upgrade Matulo Airstrip in Bungoma to an airport.
CS Kipchumba during a tour of the county explained that the project was meant to enhance the movement of people and goods in the region.
On how the project would help the locals, Murkomen remarked that area residents would get jobs and business opportunities during the construction.
“The runway will be extended to 1.2km of tarmac and a terminal building put up,” Murkomen further added.
At the same time, Tourism CS Alfred Mutua asked CS Murkomen to undertake similar works in Voi, Taita Taveta County.
“I will liaise with my counterpart in the Ministry of Transport to expedite works on the Ikanga Airfield in Voi,” Mutua promised Taita Taveta residents.
Construction of a new airport was one of several projects Murkomen promised that would be undertaken in the Western region.
Under President William Ruto’s administration, CS Murkomen revealed that the government would construct over 600 kilometres of roads in the region.
“Roads and other transport infrastructure are critical in supporting commerce, tourism and agriculture, as well as production and extractive industries,” he explained the need for the expensive infrastructural investment.
Expansion of the road network will include upgrading existing roads to bitumen standards as well as building drainage systems and walkways.
"My Ministry, through the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), is building 336km of roads,' he stated.
The roads will be constructed through the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA).
