Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo has committed to completing a key abattoir, an airport and other major projects this year to reap the economic benefits of the investments.
Guyo told the Star that once completed, the projects will benefit the public by improving their lives and boosting economic growth.
"My administration inherited several stalled projects. As a prudent administration, we intend to complete all stalled projects," he said.
The Sh850 million Isiolo Export Abattoir is among the projects the administration intends to commission this year.
The facility, whose construction commenced 16 years ago, is currently in its final stages of completion.
Livestock owners in Isiolo and neighbouring counties will by March be able to access lucrative markets for their animals when the abattoir is commissioned.
Isiolo has laid the ground to make the county a leader in the leather industry, including through value addition in line with international standards and facility transformation.
Early last week, county secretary Dadhe Boru visited Yetu Leather factory to identify market linkages for leather in Isiolo.
Additionally, the abattoir will catalyze the growth of ancillary industries that process leather and other animal products.
Situated on a 500,000-acre land, inclusive of feedlots, a disease-free zone and a livestock receiving yard, more than 1,800 livestock can be slaughtered per day at the Isiolo Export Abattoir.
The project contractor Isack Hajj said the Isiolo government contributed Sh400 million, while the World Bank gave Sh450 million.
The abattoir is expected to serve Isiolo and the neighbouring counties of Samburu, Laikipia, Meru, Garissa, Wajir and Marsabit. Southern Ethiopia and Somalia are also in its catchment area.
Once completed, the abattoir will employ 80 people directly and benefit more than 20,000 families.
Airport
Last year, the Trade ministry said it received Sh14 billion from Afriexim Bank and the African Finance Cooperation to expand the Isiolo International Airport.
Guyo said the airport will be expanded to accommodate freighters that will be landing at the facility.
He said that the airport will be upgraded to fit the international market because of its positioning at the strategic crossroads of the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia-Transport (Lapsset) projects and Isiolo resort city.
"Isiolo airport will be transformed into a major international hub that will significantly propel the economy across the region," Guyo said.
The governor said the national government has held talks with airlines and operators that will culminate in Isiolo airport recording more than 50 local and international flights daily.
He said beef, miraa, flowers and other animal products from the region will find their way into the international market through the airport.
Guyo said launching the flights will ease transport challenges as tourists visiting Isiolo game reserves will have easy access from areas such as Mombasa and Nairobi within the shortest time.
Isiolo hosts three game reserves – Shaba, Buffalo Springs and Bisan Adhi – in addition to its impressive landscape and ranges of hills. The sleeping lion and tortoise hill around Shaba Game Reserve are among the major attractions.
Guyo said the county government will put in place measures to ensure that investors take up the opportunities and enable the county to be a model business hub.
The Sh2.7 billion airport was commissioned by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017 and was part of the government’s Sh2.5 Lapsset project.
The airport, which straddles Meru and Isiolo counties, occupies 800 acres and consists of a modern passenger terminal that can handle more than 100,000 passengers annually, including parking facilities that accommodate as many as 200 vehicles.
It has about 12 concessional shops, a restaurant, banking and forex bureau space and a taxi parking lot with a capacity of 200 cars.
The airport's cargo sheds can handle at least 10 tonnes of luggage, while its apron has a capacity of seven aircraft.
The airport facility is also an important link to the new transport corridor, which the government is developing under the Lapsset corridor project.
The lack of necessary infrastructure, including aviation lights to allow planes to land and take off at night and cargo sheds, has prevented full utilisation of the airport, which has a 5,000-square-metre passenger terminal.
Governor Guyo said his administration has initiated the surveying process for 7,000 parcels of land in the historic town of Garbatula.
"I believe this undertaking will redefine and revitalise the economic landscape of the town, restoring its former status as a bustling business hub," he said.
Still on land, in addressing the longstanding land-related dispute between the residents of Burat and the Kenya Defence Forces, the governor and other elected leaders engaged in discussions with army leadership to resolve the row.
"A commitment was made to finding a lasting solution to this issue. I urge everyone to exercise patience throughout this process, we will ultimately achieve a sustainable and conclusive solution," Guyo said.