Sh7 Billion splashed in Mombasa day after Uhuru's visit

ruby orimba

November 20, 2018 2:07 PM

The government allocated the funds for a facelift

President Uhuru with DP Ruto, Governor Joho, CS Balala and other dignitaries

Mombasa County has received Sh7 billion in support just a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta visited the county.

The government released the funds to facilitate the rehabilitation of Moi International Airport. The funds will go towards improving and replacing pavements and lighting within the airport.

Transport CS James Macharia and his Tourism counterpart Najib Balala officially witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of the project on Tuesday that is expected to take 2 years to complete.

Growing Capacity

According to the Transport CS, the project is justified because the airport caters for 80% of Kenya's visiting tourists.

"This airport is the main airport serving the coast region. We need it to operate to its maximum capacity," he stated.

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In his statement, Balala noted that the airport had the potential to handle two million passengers but only operates with 300,000 annually.

"Currently, we have 15 charter flights coming to Mombasa every week, up from nine last year.

"But Moi International Airport cannot rely on charter business alone, we need more international scheduled airlines," he explained.

Kenya Airport Authority CEO Johny Andersen conveyed that the last upgrades that were conducted at the airport took place in 1994.

Source of Funding

The funds were partly secured from the French government and KAA as the World Bank funds consultants at $900,000.

"We were able to secure $65 milion, which is 93% of the funding from AFD – Agence Française de Développement. Kenya Airports Authority will cover the balance of $5 million," Andersen explained.

President Kenyatta was in Mombasa on Monday to launch the Coast Guard Service at Liwatoni.