Col Martin Ndirangu of Kenya Air Force, Nakuru governor Lee Kinyanjui and other officials at the airstrip [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
The national and Nakuru county government have partnered to upgrade the Lanet Airstrip in Nakuru to international airport standards.
According to a local daily, the airstrip¸ which lies next to the Kenya Military Academy will boost business once it is upgraded.
On Wednesday, Governor Lee Kinyanjui and officials from ministries of Transport and Infrastructure toured the area as plans to upgrade the airstrip to accommodate large commercial planes continue.
The team included KDF Colonel Martin Ndirangu, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority’s Peter Munyao and the Kenya Airport Authority’s Edmond Wekesa.
The incumbent county boss said that the new arrangement will see the airstrip, which is 10 kilometers away from the Nakuru CBD, converted into a public facility.
“Under this arrangement, we shall convert the military facility into a public utility available for use by civilian aircrafts,” Kinyanjui said, as quoted by The Star.
The first time governor also said that he is delighted that the idea has come to birth during his term in office.
On his part, Nakuru resident Kepha Chege said that the airport will boost the tourism sector in the region by creating an alternative for travelers from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The report on the design of the airport is expected to be released early January next year.
The completion of the project will be a reprieve for travelers from Eldoret, Kisumu or Mombasa.