The National Government has assured investors and stakeholders in the tourism sector of its commitment to expand Malindi International Airport, a project expected to boost the economies of Kilifi and Tana River counties.
Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha said land acquisition for the expansion had already begun, with plans to extend the main runway from 1.4 kilometers to three kilometers.
She noted that the upgrade would enable the airport to attract larger international aircraft, thus strengthening Malindi’s tourism industry and supporting regional growth.
“For a long time, investors in Malindi, especially in the tourism sector, have been requesting the government to extend this runway. I want to assure them that the process has started, and in due course we will achieve that,” she said.
Mrs. Onyancha made the remarks at the airport while leading a multi-agency team from the National Government Development Regional Implementation, Coordination and Management Committee and the Government Delivery Unit on a verification visit.
She emphasized that Malindi’s economy is diversifying beyond tourism and that the airport serves both Kilifi and Tana River counties.
The team expressed satisfaction with the ongoing resurfacing of the runway and apron, a project by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) valued at Sh242.8 billion.
“We are impressed with the progress and appreciate that KAA has taken up this matter and is handling it well,” Mrs. Onyancha told journalists.
KAA engineer Moses Abuok, overseeing the works, explained that the project involves milling and regulating the main surface and is currently 60 per cent complete. Once finished, the airport will be able to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787.
Earlier, the team directed the National Land Commission (NLC) and KAA to expedite land acquisition for the expansion.
Officials raised concern over delays, noting that the NLC had not submitted its report from a March 2025 inquiry into airport land ownership, while KAA had yet to deploy a surveyor to determine the scope of land required.
The team instructed the GDU, through its Head of Infrastructure Peter Kitheka, to follow up with the two agencies to ensure progress.
Land ownership disputes remain a challenge nearly 15 years after the project was first proposed. The government must resettle squatters first before negotiating with genuine landowners, and this has been the main cause of delay in implementing the long-awaited airport expansion.
Some squatters in phase one of the resettlement plan went court to claim ownership of the land for which they were compensated for their structures, and this was the subject of the inquiry conducted by NLC in March 2025.
By Emmanuel Masha
