Members of Parliament have said there will be no plans to set up an international airport in Nakuru County.
Members of the parliamentary committee on transport, public works and Housing told the area residents that upgrading of the Lanet Military airstrip will not affect them and their land.
Residents of Ndege-Ndimu were told that the first phase of the project will only involve upgrading of the Lanet airstrip that has been serving the military.
The area residents feared that there will be a second phase of the project, which has the backing of President Uhuru Kenyatta which would involve upgrading of the airstrip to an international airport.
A community leader, Anthony Njui, said area residents are in fear that they will lose their land to the project.
“We need clarification on whether the government will acquire our land for the second phase or not. We will only support the project on the condition that no one will be evicted,” said Njui as quoted by Standard.
West Mugirango MP Vincent Mogaka, however, assured the residents that there will be no second phase of the project and that the current project will not extend beyond military land.
“This is a national government project. As far as we are concerned, we are only aware that the project will be undertaken at the existing military airstrip. Residents need not fear that their land will be taken,” said Mogaka.
Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama echoed Mogaka’s statement saying that the project will not affect the area residents in any way.
“The design has been completed and the project is entirely within the barracks,” said Arama.
The first phase of the project involves construction of taxiways and terminals, rehabilitation of the runaway, a fence, and construction of a military lounge.
The project which has been allocated Sh400 million by the national government will also see the construction of an air rescue centre and a fire fighting building.