NLC Notice Triggers Land Acquisition for Major Homa Bay Infrastructure Realignment

The National Land Commission (NLC) has officially commenced compulsory land acquisition proceedings to allow the realignment of the Homa Bay-Rongo (B3) road. The state agency is executing the process on behalf of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).

This acquisition directly supports the ongoing infrastructure expansion at Kabunde Airstrip, located in Homa Bay County. Realignment of the neighboring highway is necessary to clear space for extended airport operations and safer runway clearances.

Official notices indicate that over 100 individual land parcels are targeted for compulsory acquisition along the designated corridor. The affected plots lie along the section where the highway intersects with the immediate perimeter of the facility.

Landowners whose properties fall within the designated realignment zone have been summoned to formal public inquiry hearings. According to the published schedules, these statutory hearings are slated to commence on August 3, 2026, at the Kabunde Chief's Office.

The exercise aims to establish lawful ownership, hear compensation claims, and resolve boundary queries before construction teams move on site. Officers from both NLC and KeNHA will conduct the inquiry sessions alongside local administrative officials.

Kabunde Airstrip has undergone progressive infrastructural upgrades to accommodate higher passenger capacities and larger commercial aircraft. Previous works at the facility included lengthening the existing runway from 1.1 kilometers to 1.3 kilometers, alongside rehabilitating two taxiways and the main apron.

A modern passenger terminal building is also under construction at the facility, with completion targeted for May 2027. Operations resumed in April following an eight-month closure for major runway works, with local carriers currently operating scheduled flights to Nairobi.

The highway realignment will create the required safety buffer zones and structural room for future runway extensions. Transport authorities view the project as essential for linking road and air networks in the Nyanza region.

Affected residents are expected to present ownership documents, national identification cards, and personal bank details during the scheduled August hearings. Compensation awards will be determined following full property inspections and boundary verifications by government valuers.

Once the inquiry process concludes, KeNHA will proceed with contractor mobilization for the civil engineering works. The realigned B3 route will clear the path for the final phase of aviation infrastructure developments at the site.