The government will fast track the construction of a cargo section at the Kisumu International Airport, as part of a Sh4.9 billion expansion of the facility with a huge potential for shipping of agricultural produce including fish, rice and horticultural produce.
Eliud Owalo, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, said that the cargo handling facility would be supplemented with a cold storage area and an extended runway to handle large planes that ply international routes.
“This will support the export of fresh fish and local farm produce (fruits and vegetables) to Europe and other countries in various continents to boost income for local farmers and businessmen,” he said.
Mr Owalo said the airport is yet to exploit its potential despite lucrative export markets in Europe and America.
“We want to upgrade Kisumu airport to international standards that will see our farmers export their produce directly to Europe. This will improve our markets. We cannot have an airport that only carries bodies as cargo,” said Mr Owalo.
He said that by strengthening the airport’s cargo handling capacity, the facility would attract agro-processors, logistics companies and exporters to Kisumu, creating thousands of jobs and revitalising the local economy.
Besides trade, the Kisumu airport targets to boost tourism.
A blueprint by the Kenya Airport Authority shows that the airport upgrade would include the construction of a parallel taxi-way and cargo apron, widening and strengthening of the current runway by 3300 metres and development of a cargo transit shed, a cut flowers pack house, vegetables, and fruits pack house and a fish processing pack house.
The upgrade also includes a new control tower. The Sh314 million control tower and office building project has been under construction by M/S Polish Contractors Limited since August 14, 2023 and 80 percent complete.
The new building comprises office space, located on the ground and first floors, while the tower cabin is on the eighth floor of the building with a height of 35 metres.
The airport has over the years handled domestic flights by players such as Kenya Airways, Jambojet, Renegade, Air Kenya, Safarilink Aviation and 748 Airlines.
