Ministry of Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has confirmed that the Matulo airstrip in Webuye, Bungoma, will be completed in May ahead of the Madaraka celebrations.
This year’s Madaraka National Celebrations will be held at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma.
Speaking at Matulo airstrip in Bungoma on Thursday, PS Omollo stated that the main aim for the visit at the Matulo airstrip is to assess the suitability and utility of the facility noting that currently, Bungoma doesn’t have a functional airstrip.
“There was an airstrip in Kanduyi but it is also not functional, Matulo airstrip was put and it was functional for some time but now it is in bad condition to be used,” PS Omollo stated.
He was in the company of Transport PS Mohammed Daghar and Kenya Airports Authority acting managing director Henry Ogoye.
The PS said the runway at Matulo airstrip is completely gone, affirming that the government is looking into it to see how the facility can undergo upgrades to serve the intended purpose.
Originally, PS Omollo stated that the airstrip was sitting on 70 acres of land but a small portion has been encroached on by the public saying that soon there will be an engagement with the public and the county government to get the entire piece for the airstrip.
"Immediately we set up the process of securing encroached land, we shall also work on the landing surface together with a terminal that will be used by the planes," he said.
Omollo also revealed that there are ongoing works at the Masinde Muliro Stadium where the Madaraka event will be hosted and at the county commissioner’s residence where the President will have a luncheon.
PS Daghar said the government is determined to open up the country for air transport, especially in the North Eastern, Nyanza and Western regions.
“We are mainly focusing on opening up airstrips so that we move medical evacuations and movement of horticultural exports and general movement of trade and people easier,” he said.
In addition, Daghar affirmed that the KAA has already contacted a scope for the Matulo airstrip project adding that they are determined to face it out.
“We are determined to make sure that the runway is done, taxi way rehabilitated and the place can accommodate at least three aircraft, put up a windsock and a control tower,” he said.
Also present were Bungoma county commissioner Thomas Sankei and police commander Francis Kooli among others.