The Kenya Kwanza government is set to build the country’s first exclusive cargo airport in East and Central Africa on land in the Athi River.
The revelation was made on Tuesday evening by CS Investments, Trade and Industry, Moses Kuria, during the launch of East African Portland Cement Company’s Green Cement.
Kuria said the land on which the cargo airport will be built lies within the EAPCC land indicated in its land title.
“I am today announcing that from Monday next week, I will send the entire National Youth Service to Athi River to start digging trenches along the EAPCC land,” said Kuria.
The CS said he is under pressure from the president to work on green energy and to lift the GDP contribution of manufacturing from 7 per cent to 22 per cent in the next 7 years.
“How will I work on the government agenda when I have to deal with the question of squatters? This is a clear message to the squatters who have grabbed the EAPCC land,” the CS said.
Kuria said that after the trenches are done, he will ensure all the buildings inside the company land will be brought down.
“We want to build the cargo airport because we do not have cargo flights to transport our vegetables, avocados, and flowers to other countries. By doing so we will create thousands of jobs,” Kuria said.
Squatting on public land, the CS said, will be a thing of the past in the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Kuria announced to everyone squatting on the EAPCC land to use the remaining days before next Monday to take away their belongings, adding that there will be no other announcement about the same.
He said he is expecting the EAPCC to be the best cement company in the country and for its land to provide the best cargo hub in east and central Africa.
The CS said he is meeting the board members and top management staff from EAPCC next week to finalise the issue of land.
He was accompanied to the Athi River by top ministry officials.