The Malindi International Airport. [Photo/ebru.co.ke]
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is set to complete compensation for the acquisition of land earmarked for the first phase of the expansion of Malindi Airport by December.Malindi Airport Manager Walter Agong said the first batch of people has been compensated at a cost of Sh300 million. “People are in the process of vacating and by the end of December we shall be done with the compensation which will have cost Sh420 million,’’ he said.The phase which entailed the acquisition of 25 hectares is expected to cost Sh520 million and the first group of land and property owners at Kwa Chocha South have already been compensated.A balance of about Sh200 million to complete the list of those who will be affected in the first phase will be released soon. The airport currently occupies 100.6 hectares and needs a minimum of 259 hectares to extend the runway and ensure security and safety of the facility. Phase two will acquire additional land for the extension of the main runway from the current 1.4 kilometers to 2.5 kilometers.The expansion which has dragged on over the years due to wrangles over land ownership and opposition from squatters will allow direct flights from Europe, thus boosting tourist arrivals. Phase two of the project entails the acquisition of about 130 hectares.KAA said it has completed mapping out the area earmarked for the expansion of the runway. The national government set aside a budget of Sh1.5 billion for compensating those who will be affected in the second phase to ensure the process runs smoothly.Agong said the process of compensation is going on smoothly. Speaking in his office during a visit by Mining Cabinet secretary Dan Kazungu to check on the progress of the expansion plan on Wednesday, he said those who had already been compensated are in the process of vacating. “The dream of making Malindi an international airport is real, now we have a new apron which is 99 percent complete and will be ready in December to accommodate three code 4c airplanes or four boeng 737,’’ he said. Kazungu commended KAA for the speedy compensation exercise and asked residents to support the project.