Plans are underway to construct an airport in Nakuru County to provide alternative landing base for Nairobi flights during an emergency, the Kenya Airport Authority has asserted.
The KAA officials who visited the site refuted there was a National Environment Management Authority report declaring the land unsuitable for an airport.
Speaking on Tuesday at the governor’s office, the authority officials led by acting managing director Yatich Kangugo said the airport will be build at Pipeline, 17km from Nakuru town.
“KAA in collaboration with the county government will produce a master plan for the airport in the next three weeks in readiness for the construction of the airport set to be completed in the next 48 months,” Kangugo said.
He said KAA has already done a caveat around the 500-acre land and later in collaboration with the planning team from the county; they will secure the place and have a master plan in place in the next three weeks.
He added that the facility could be used for international flights in case of an emergency such as the recent fire tragedy at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Kangugo and the deputy Governor Joseph Rutto disputed claims that there was a report from the environmentalists cautioning that the earmarked site was on a bird migratory route.
The MD said there has never been a report that the site is a migratory route for flamingos.
The KAA managing director also asked people who are developing at the earmarked land to vacate immediately insisting it is government property.
He observed that KAA acquired the title deed of the 500 acres in 1996.
He added that if the developers do not move, “they will be evicted forcibly at their own cost.”
Construction of an airport in the county, which is only two hours from Nairobi, will be convenient for travellers who mostly rely on facilities in Eldoret, Kisumu or Mombasa in case of an emergency.
DG Rutto said there is a great need for an airport in the county, assuring the support of the county government for the project.
He said the county’s Land department will work closely with the authority to develop and approve plans as from the meeting it emerged a master plan is to be formulated within three weeks with the airport to be completed within 48 months.
Rutto also warned land grabbers that the national and county governments are united against the vice as evidenced by the invitation of officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Nakuru's security committee were invited to the meeting.