Infrastructure

Mutua Seeks Nod to Build Airport at New Machakos Town

Airport to be located in the proposed New Machakos town.

Updated on

June 1, 2021

Alfred Mutua-led Machakos County Government has approached Nema for approval to build an airport in Machakos town to boost regional trade and tourism.

Located at Muvuti-Kiima-Kimwe Ward within the proposed New Machakos town, the Machakos Airport will sit on 104 hectares – about 8.5% of the planned 892-hectare town.

The project involves the construction of a taxiway, passenger and presidential terminals, as well as a 1.35km runway, and other amenities such as link roads and a water treatment plant.

“The runway will be 1350m long and 45m wide. At both ends of the runway, a stopway will be constructed. The runway shoulders will be 7.5m wide and a Runway End Safety Area (RESA) of 180m length and 160m width will be provided at both ends of the runway,” Machakos says in its project report.

The Machakos Airport’s passenger terminal, the airfield’s main terminal, will comprise 10 check-in counters, six security checkpoints, 10 gates, six-passenger boarding bridges, and immigration counters for arrival and departure.

An estimated 4,700sq m of the terminal will be reserved for retail and commercial activities.

“It will not take place until Nema issues a final environmental decision for the proposed project(s), and until compliance with all other applicable KCAA approval actions (e.g., airspace approval) and special purpose laws has occurred,” the county said.

Machakos Airport, which is located on the County Government land, will be built for Sh250 million. The project will not displace any person, institution, or economic activity.

The airport is part of the Long Term Local Physical Development Plan for Machakos New Town – a blueprint for a complementary town adjacent to the existing Machakos Old Town.

The plan presents development proposals for the new town to guide development for a period of 20 years from 2014 to 2034.

The New Machakos town is planned to international standards in the model of other modern cities such as Dubai and Singapore.

It will house factories, modern office parks and skyscrapers that will be complemented by beautiful and luxurious living spaces that include public parks.

According to the Machakos County Government, 5 km of new roads will be built to connect the airport to the national B62 linking Machakos town to Kyumvi on Mombasa Road.

Currently, there is no airstrip in Machakos County, but plans are underway to build a 4km runway at Konza Techno City to act as an alternative to Eldoret Airport.