Homa Bay banks on Kabunde Airstrip upgrade to boost trade and tourism

Operations at the airstrip kicked off in early April after an 8-month pause to allow the upgrade of infrastructure.

In the recent upgrades, the runway was extended from 1.1km to 1.3Km, while the two taxiways and apron were rehabilitated.

A new tarmac and other key infrastructure were also installed, enabling the airstrip to handle bigger aircraft. Currently, the passenger terminal building is under construction and is set for completion in May 2027.

According to Kenya Airways Authority (KAA) chairperson Caleb Kositany, Kabunde airstrip can handle one million passengers yearly.

“This facility will improve connectivity and lift business in this region,” Kositany said recently when he inspected the project.

Wycliffe Adoya, the airstrip manager, says full flight operations resumed fully in April following completion of most of the major works.

“Tourists can fly from places like Maasai Mara to Kabunde,” noted Adoya, adding that Homa Bay has witnessed a growing passenger traffic and an influx of travellers transiting to various destinations, making the project timely.

Currently, the airstrip serves a number of airlines, including Renegade Air, which flies to Kabunde three times a week.

During the launch of the resumption of flights at the airstrip, Renegade Air’s Patrick Oketch said the airline will initially operate a Dash 8-100 aircraft with a capacity of 37 passengers between Kabunde and Wilson Airport three times a week - on Monday, Friday, and Sunday.

The plane departs Wilson Airport at 1.00 pm, arriving at Kabunde 2.15pm. It then leaves Kabunde 2.45 pm, landing in Nairobi at 3.30pm.

One of the tourist attraction sites in Homa Bay is the Ruma National Park. The upgrade of Kabunde Airstrip is expected to lead to an increase in the number of arrivals at Ruma National Park.

Benson Limo,  deputy warden at the park, termed the renovation of the airstrip a good move.

“Tourists can fly from across Kenya to Kabunde and then travel by road to the park,” he said.

Kabunde airstrip revamp is part of the government’s ambitious plan to step up connectivity in the Nyanza region and across the country.

In Migori, the upgrade of the Lichota Airstrip is expected to be completed this year, also marking a significant boost for tourism and trade across Nyanza and the wider western region.