Opening of Airport to spur growth

Nakuru, Tuesday, June 27, 2023

kna by Veronica Bosibori & Moses Mbaru

Nakuru residents, and especially flower farms are upbeat in anticipation of the opening of the Lanet airport, which they are convinced might start operating before the end of the year.

A flower farm investor at Lanet sub-county, Paul Salim said, the opening of the Lanet airport was likely to change the economic status of the local residents since it will lead to the expansion of flower farms and create more employment.

However, he faulted the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and county management for a lack of updates to enable them to plan accordingly.

He added that the silence and secrecy of the anticipated time for the operationalisation of commercial aircraft have led to numerous rumours.

He appealed to the Kenya Airports Authority, the autonomous body charged with the responsibility of providing and managing civilian airports in the country, to make an effort of updating the local residents.

A businessman at Lanet, Alex Nderitu, said much as they are optimistic and positive about the commencement of commercial flights, but the heightened rumours, such as buildings with more than three floors will not be allowed in the area was deterring development.  

He noted that some investors who had started constructing high-rise buildings have halted the projects due to the unconfirmed reports, and the fear of their buildings being brought down.

Nderitu added that some investors who had wanted to build a multistoried hotel in the area, have deferred the project awaiting the true position from the Kenya Airports Authority.  

But, the Public Health Officer of the area, Mr Miriam Kamau exonerated the Kenya Airports Authority from the limitation of three floors for high-rise buildings and said it was due to the area’s high water table.

She said the area residents were aware of the high water table since many of them have drilled boreholes and, due to that the county government has always discouraged high-rise buildings beyond three floors because it would be quite expensive to make fortified foundations to support the construction of towering buildings. 

Courtesy ; K. N. A