Kenya starts work on the expansion of Kisumu Int'l Airport
Kenya is continuing its national plan to modernise its main airports, which has been disrupted over the past two years by the health crisis. After Nairobi and Mombasa, it is now the turn of Kisumu International Airport to undergo a facelift.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) launched on Friday, February 11, 2022, the rehabilitation, modernization and expansion of Kisumu airport, the third international hub of the country after Nairobi and Mombasa.
The work, which will last for three months, includes the expansion of the passenger terminal to provide an additional gate and arrival hall; the construction of a mezzanine floor to provide an additional VIP lounge; and a car park on the city side.
According to Kenya News Agency, the US$240 million project aims to increase the hub's capacity from 250,000 to 500,000 passengers per year. "We have already seen a 10% increase in air travel since the Covid-19 containment measures were lifted. This shows how much the industry is growing, and we need to be prepared for it," said KAA managing director Alex Gitari at the launch.
But in the immediate future, the launch of this construction site is in line with the hosting of the 9th Africities conference to be held in Kisumu from 17 to 23 May 2022. "We expect to have over 10,000 delegates in Kisumu for this conference, so this facility will be useful to ensure that there is enough space to handle the increased travel," Mr Gitari added. He therefore asked the contractor to meet the deadline.
