Government decommissions decades-old Suneka airstrip

A section of the stalled Suneka airstrip in Kisii County, January 2018. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

Leaders from the two counties will now be forced to return to the drawing board after the Head of State said that the construction of the Kiendege Airstrip was not viable either.

"Experts have reported that it could be impossible to have an airstrip at the proposed Kiendege area. Let the leaders agree on how to move forward and my Government will give the necessary support."

The President's pronouncement means ongoing construction of phase two works at the Suneka Airstrip will now be stopped.

Kisii Governor Simba Arati and Bomachoge Chache MP Alfa Miruka, who spoke during the event, had made a request to the Government to put an airport in the Nyangusu area in Bobasi Constituency arguing that there was enough land in the area. Nyangusu area borders Narok County along the Kilgoris-Kisii border.

The Government had estimated to spend Sh500 million to put up the Kiendege Airstrip in Nyamira. The area has approximately 60 acres, including the Kiendege playground that previously hosted various school games in the region.

In November 2021, residents living around a Kiendege area petitioned the Government demanding that the Government carry out proper public participation before beginning the process to establish an airstrip in the area.

According to the locals, the Government had gone ahead to map out the area without their participation, a move that they claim could lead to their relocation without compensation.

They also claimed that the establishment of the airstrip could mean that three major institutions in the area; Kiendege Primary, Secondary School, Village Polytechnic and government health facility be closed.

At Suneka Airstrip, locals will now be forced to return to public participation on how to use the now-free land.

The Constituency Development Fund office has been planning to put up a Technical Vocational Training Centre in the Constituency, but the plans have been thwarted by inadequate land.

The President also advised area leaders to allocate land in various urban areas for the construction of affordable housing.