After its grand opening in July 2017 following a Ksh 3 billion upgrade, Isiolo International Airport was expected to be a game changer economically for northern Kenya, including Isiolo, Meru, Marsabit and Laikipia counties.
The airport upgrade started back in 2013 after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration took power and sits on 800 acres.
The facility consists of a modern passenger terminal that has a capacity to handle more than 300,000 passengers annually, including parking facilities a with capacity to accommodate more than 200 cars.
It was conceived to be a key part of the Lapsset Corridor project, an economic and transport passageway that stretches from the Lamu Port to South Sudan and Ethiopia.
Miraa and horticultural produce from Meru and Laikipia were also expected to be transported through the airport.
In addition, flights of local and international passengers would land at the facility, boosting tourism.
President Uhuru, who commissioned the airport, had said the facility would open up the Northern Kenya tourism belt to grow the number of tourists in the region, thereby boosting the local economy.
“This airport is a catalyst to economic development that will come with the expansion of tourism and creation of quality job opportunities,” he said then.
However, this is still a far-fetched dream!
The airport is now idle painting a gloomy picture of a facility where billions of shillings were invested with a couple of workers spotted now and then walking lazily to kill time.
White elephant project! An amoral Govt pumps billions to face lift Isiolo Airport with no feasibility study on its viability. Result; Idle facility with no flights in sight @robertbalamino @sabore97
— Mzee Paul Magunga (@plmagunga) June 21, 2019
Once in a while, the facility is only used by small chartered aircraft.
The facility was also supposed to be used by miraa traders transporting the stimulant to Nairobi and other destinations.
However, according to Nyambene Miraa Traders Association (Nyamita) chairman Kimathi Munjuri proper consultations on how they would transport the produce from the facility were not done.
He said had they been consulted on how to actualise the plan, the authorities would have made informed decisions on how to facilitate them.
For instance, the cost of transporting miraa from Isiolo to Nairobi by flight averages $2,000 (Sh200,000) for a load of 1.5 tonnes, which a pickup carries at a cost of Sh50,000.
“This cost is too high and there is no way farmers can agree to have their produce transported by air. There is need to think about incentives that will convince miraa traders to use the airport. But if the runway would be extended, then we would have flights leaving Isiolo for Somalia, the major destination for miraa at the moment,” Mr Munjuri said.
The Meru county Governor Kiraitu Murungi believes the airport has the potential to boost the area’s economy.
“The airport was expected to transform this region, the reason we even pushed for tarmacking of the Isiolo-Ruiri road so that we can have a direct link between the facility and miraa-growing areas. We will continue to lobby for the upgrade because we know it has a huge potential,” said Mr Murungi
In a meeting with Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) on Thursday, the National Assembly’s Transport Committee expressed concern on the value of some of the airstrips that continue to burden taxpayers.
Opened in 2017, Isiolo airport is the 4th-largest airport in Kenya.
‘More than 200 families were displaced during the airport’s development. Some were not even issued with an eviction notice. They just woke up in the morning and were told to leave’:https://t.co/Ullkhrfulm— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) May 14, 2019
This came after damning reports emerged that there are no flights landing at the Isiolo facility despite the addition Ksh 2 billion renovation currently being undertaken at the facility.
“What is the significance of these airstrips to the counties? The people of Isiolo are not employed there even as casuals,” Isiolo woman representative Rehema Jadelsa was quoted by Business Daily.
Isiolo airport has some activities, this one in India hasn't seen an airplane in 2 years it's used by driving schools instead to learn fast driving pic.twitter.com/w9ZFFqE0d7
— Christopher Muriithi (@ChrisMazingira) June 20, 2019
Her counterpart Sotik MP Dominic Koskei emphasized the need of a feasibility study on the viability of a project before the government commits any money to such facilities.
“It is sad that we are pumping billions into an airstrip that has no flights,” he said.
They were just looking for an avenue to loot money. How can you venture into a business which will not bring returns…
— KELVIN NG’ANG’A KARANJA (@IamKelvinNganga) June 20, 2019
How a capital deficient country would be overinvesting in impotent projects while starving high return sectors is beyond understanding
1. Isiolo airport – idle
2. Installed electricity capacity – idle
3. SGR – Underutilized
Further investments
Lamu coal plant..
Who bewitched us?— Tony Gitonga (@TonyMurega) June 14, 2019