Lanet/Nakuru International Airport in Kenya

The Nakuru International Airport is a project that is currently in the works and has not yet begun construction. If all goes to plan, the airport will be the result of a US$24 million upgrade to the current Lanet Military Strip.

The plan, which aims to turn the building into a “new international airport,” will be carried out in two stages. The initial phase will entail the construction of a 1.7Km runway, the rehabilitation of the current runway to bitumen standards, the erection of a fence, and the construction of taxiways.

It will also involve the construction of a terminal building and a military lounge, the construction of air rescue and firefighting building as well as the construction of military and civilian gates. A power substation and a patrol road will also be constructed in the first phase.

The second phase will mainly be the extension of phase one so as to allow the airport to accommodate much larger aircraft and might include compensation of neighboring residents whose land may be acquired for the project.

The project will be fully funded by the national government of the Republic of Kenya at a tune of over US$ 27M.

Expectations for the project

Upon completion, the project is expected to accommodate bigger cargo and passenger planes of approximately 40 to 100 tonnes. This will subsequently present flower farmers in Naivasha with a chance to exploit the huge market available by increasing their exports to Europe and the United States.

Due to its closeness to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, the Nakuru airport will also serve flights that are normally redirected to Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret during emergencies.

Reported in March 2013

Plans for an International Airport in Nakuru

Construction of an international airport in Nakuru town has returned to the radar with the allocation of Sh250 million for preparatory work in this year’s Budget.

A 642-acre land near the Kenya Pipeline depot has been earmarked for the project which encountered delays after internally displaced persons settled in the area.

The IDPS were recently moved to a 700-acre land in Subukia.

The airport is expected to provide a diversion for flights destined for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, about 200 kilometers away.

Jul 2020

Construction of Nakuru airport in Kenya to begin soon

The long-awaited construction or other the conversion of Lanet military airstrip into an International Public airport (Nakuru Airport) is set to begin soon after the closure of the bid submission process which began early last month.

According to Governor Lee Kinyanjui, the Nakuru county boss, the bids for the construction of the airport will now be reviewed at the Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) headquarters in Nairobi to determine which bidder will be awarded the contract.

Dec 2020

Lanet/Nakuru International Airport project execution in Kenya begins

The execution of the Lanet/Nakuru International Airport project has begun following a groundbreaking ceremony held at the 81 Tank Battalion Barracks in Lanet.

Speaking during the ceremony, Deputy Kenya Air Force Commander Brigadier John Omenda said that the military will provide necessary support towards the implementation of the project which will serve Nakuru County and the entire country at large.

Also present at the ceremony, Transport Principal Secretary (PS) Solomon Kitungu described the project as “an early Christmas gift for the county and a major milestone.”

The Nakuru county boss, Governor Lee Kinyanjui during the groundbreaking ceremony said that the project will boost the horticultural and tourism sectors that play a pivotal role in the country’s economy.

“Even as the national government expands the Nairobi to Mau Summit Highway into a dual carriageway, this airport will be critical infrastructure. It will better position the county as a tourist destination and help in getting perishable goods to the capital city, Nairobi,” said Mr. Kinyanjui.