Mandera county Governor Ali Roba is calling for an end to a protracted land dispute to allow for the upgrade of the region’s airstrip.
The modernization of the airstrip stalled after residents moved to court to block the acquisition of land around the airport.
The County has sought funding from the National Government to expand the airstrip.
The Mandera airstrip currently has a 2 Kilometer runway and its development has stalled and the funds allocated said to have been returned to the Treasury.
The County Government had sought funds from the National Government to upgrade the airstrip by acquiring additional land.
However residents moved to court to block the acquisition complicating the matter.
A state of affairs that Governor Ali roba says has denied a majority of residents development saying the construction of the airport would open up the region’s economic prospects.
He at the same time warned that the existing 2 kilometer runway is dangerous to the residents safety saying if a plane develops mechanical problems during landing or takeoff it is likely to crash into residential houses.