Ruto allocates Sh400 million for construction of stalled Kakamega Airstrip
Western
By
Mary Imenza and Benard Lusigi
| Nov 01, 2025
President William Ruto has announced that the government has set aside Sh400 million for the construction and rehabilitation of the stalled Kakamega Airstrip, promising that the facility will soon be operational.
The once vibrant airstrip stalled a year ago due to the bad state of the runway, barely a year after it was officially opened for operations.
Speaking on Saturday at Shiveye in Shinyalu Sub-county during the launch of a new road project, President Ruto said the airstrip is among key infrastructure projects his administration is prioritising to open up the Western region for investment and tourism.
“We have already allocated Sh400 million for the construction and completion of the Kakamega Airstrip. Very soon, it will be functional to improve transport and support business in this region,” said Ruto.
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The Head of State noted that once completed, the airstrip will ease travel between Nairobi and Kakamega, boost trade, and attract investors to the county and its neighbouring regions.
President Ruto is on the third day of his development tour of Western Kenya, where he has been commissioning roads, health facilities, and education projects across Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia counties.
Barely two years ago, Kakamega Airstrip, located in Shinyalu Constituency, had bustled with activity and stood as a beacon of economic promise for the surrounding communities.
With regular flights, the facility served as a critical economic hub, offering jobs, boosting trade, and providing a vital transport link for residents.
However, since Skyward Express suspended its operations due to the deteriorating condition of the runway, the once-thriving airstrip has fallen into disrepair.
The airstrip has been functioning less as a gateway to prosperity and more as a grazing field and a hideout for criminal gangs-fuelling insecurity and disillusionment in equal measure.
The ongoing neglect sparked outrage among residents.
In April this year, locals staged demonstrations, protesting rising insecurity and the loss of livelihoods after their primary economic lifeline was cut off. Many accused President William Ruto of reneging on his campaign promise to upgrade the facility into a fully-fledged airport.
Residents also criticised local leaders, accusing them of paying little attention to projects that positively impact the lives of residents and failing to champion the maintenance and elevation of the facility to an international airport.
"I'm a boda boda operator and a resident here," said Joseph Shivaji. "I used to transport luggage, passengers, and commodities to the airstrip when it was operational. Since its closure, insecurity has soared-people are being robbed and attacked."
He added, "With no economic activity, the area is dormant, and insecurity has risen. Just a week ago, two people were attacked while on a motorbike. The assailants fled into the airstrip to hide.”