A section of the Manda Airstrip two-kilometre runway. PHOTO | FILE
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The authority has already floated bids for the expansion of the taxiway and apron even as it set its eyes on handling increased activity at the airport.
Manda Airstrip in Lamu is set for further upgrade to cater for bigger capacity aircraft following the recent extension of its runway.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) said the airport taxiway and apron would be expanded to handle large aircraft such as the Embraer 190 and the Boeing 737.
The authority has already floated bids for the expansion of the taxiway and apron even as it set its eyes on handling increased activity at the airport.
Traffic is expected to build up at the airport as key personnel such as engineers and consultants access the Lamu port project site via the airstrip. Some of the equipment to be used in the construction of the port would also be shipped in through the facility.
The KAA is currently implementing a raft of expansion projects at the airstrip to cater for larger aircraft and human traffic. The airstrip’s runway was recently extended to two kilometres to handle larger aircraft as part of a Sh600 million upgrade. The runway was previously just a kilometre long.
Apart from an extended runway, Manda Airstrip has a new Sh160 million terminal building which can handle 200 passengers. In 2014, the airstrip handled 3,497 flight operations — 1,748 takeoffs and 1,749 landings — while 36,476 passengers used the facility.
“These figures are expected to increase in the next few years with the authority’s projections showing that the airstrip will be handling more than 5,000 flight operations and serving approximately 80,000 passengers annually come 2030,” KAA said, noting that tourism would also help grow traffic at the facility.
The construction of the Sh300 billion Lamu port as part of the larger Lamu Port and South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lappset) corridor project is expected to help open up transport around the Lamu archipelago.
The project entails building of a new sea port at Manda as well as standard gauge railway line from Lamu to South Sudan with branches to Nairobi and Ethiopia from a hub in Isiolo.
The project also includes the construction of a highway from Lamu to Isiolo with an extension to Nadapal/Nakodok in South Sudan and another link to Addis Ababa through Moyale.
The construction of terminal buildings and three berths at Lamu is nearing completion.
Apart from Manda, the government has recently rehabilitated five airstrips in Nanyuki, Ikanga, Lodwar, Embu and Malindi as well as expanded and modernised Isiolo and Kisumu airports as part of attempts to improve connectivity.
Last week, maiden flights touched down at the newly refurbished Kabunde Airstrip near Homa Bay town, which is expected to serve a large catchment area and supplement services of Suneka Airstrip in the neighbouring Kisii County.
Last year, the government earmarked more airstrips for construction and upgrade to boost domestic air travel. North eastern Kenya stands to benefit from new airstrips to be built at Mandera-Wargadud and Eldas with runways of 4,220 metres and 3,000 metres respectively.
An additional 1,700 long runway is being built in Kitale to accommodate more aircraft.
