Kakamega Airstrip has opened up for commercial flights. The County Governor Fernandes Barasa confirmed the report and said the first flight from the airstrip will be received at the Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
“I will officiate the first commercial flight courtesy of the president’s recent tour, tomorrow. The facility will open up Western Kenya to visitors,” said the governor.
Kakamega Airstrip
The airstrip features a runway of 1289 meters long and an existing apron, also called a flight line or a ramp is where the plane packs. It also has two new taxiways which will allow for movement of an aircraft in and away from the terminal building housing facilities for passengers.
Kakamega Airstrip will accommodate four planes of Dash 7 Q300 and Dash 7 Q100 with a capacity of 40 passengers each translating to 160 passengers at any given time. President William Ruto officially commissioned the Sh170 million airstrip last week during his two-day tour of the Western region.
Dr Ruto also directed the Kenya Airports Authority and Kenya Civil Aviation to suspend landing fees for a while. He said more money will be allocated by his government for the expansion and upgrade of the airstrip.
“I have asked Governor Barasa to identify land for expansion of the airstrip so that it can open up for large flights that will serve Kakamega and the neighbouring counties. People from this region will not be required to go all the way to Kisumu airport to catch flights anymore,” said Ruto.