Kakamega Airstrip finally gets long-awaited makeover after pothole menace
By Steve Ireri, December 1, 2025Kakamega Airstrip is finally undergoing a major overhaul, bringing relief to residents and travellers who had endured years of disruptions due to potholes and deteriorating runway conditions.
The upgrade was confirmed by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo in an X post on Monday, December 1, 2025.
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In his post, Omollo said the upgrade involves rehabilitation of the runway, taxiways, and apron and aims to transform the facility into a modern hub capable of handling increased domestic and commercial flights.
“The Kakamega Airstrip is undergoing a major upgrade, including the rehabilitation of the runway, taxiways and apron. Once complete, the expanded facility will accommodate more domestic and commercial flights, boosting connectivity and opening up the county to greater trade and tourism opportunities,” Omollo wrote.
Omollo added that the expanded airstrip will boost connectivity, open up Kakamega County to greater trade and tourism opportunities, create new jobs, and stimulate local businesses. He said that the project, launched by President William Ruto in October 2025, is steadily progressing, bringing the county closer to a fully functional air transport gateway.
“This strategic investment by the government is set to create new jobs, stimulate local businesses and strengthen Kakamega’s role as a vibrant hub for economic growth,” Omollo wrote.
Public pressure
The upgrade comes after mounting public pressure, following a series of disruptions that began in September 2024.
Governor Fernandes Barasa had called on the Ministry of Transport and the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to expedite repairs, arguing that the responsibility for maintaining the airstrip lay squarely with KAA.
On September 29, 2024, he urged Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir to ensure the runway was restored to operational standards, warning that service interruptions would hurt the county’s economy.
“I now call on the Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir through the Kenya Airports Authority because the job of repairing the airport and runway belongs to KAA. Please I want to a very quick action to repair the runway so that planes can continue landing here,” Barasa stated.
The situation escalated when Skyward Express, citing safety concerns over the deteriorating runway, temporarily suspended all flights to and from Kakamega effective September 30, 2024.
The airline emphasised that passenger safety was its top priority and promised to assist affected travellers with alternative arrangements. This suspension disrupted both business and leisure travel, highlighting the county’s dependence on air transport for quick connectivity to major hubs like Nairobi and Mombasa.
Earlier, Mumias East MP Peter Salasya had intervened, personally liaising with KAA management and insisting that repairs be carried out swiftly. He warned that failure to act would compel him to take further steps, including demonstrating at KAA offices to ensure the runway received immediate attention.
“I have warned the MD that if that airstrip is not done by Monday, I will now be the one to go and demonstrate in their office, and it will not be good. So he has assured me that he will be bringing the people to the site on Monday to come and make sure that a thorough renovation is done,” Salasya said.
The Kakamega Airstrip had previously undergone a major upgrade and was commissioned by President William Ruto on December 8, 2022, following a Ksh174.7 million rehabilitation project that included a new runway, taxiway, and expanded apron.
The upgrades had initially been celebrated as a critical step toward boosting the county’s economic potential.
Skyward Express launched its first flight to the upgraded facility on December 14, 2022. However, less than two years later, the runway had degraded, raising concerns about long-term maintenance.