Government Identifies Land for New Kisii Airport and International Sports Stadium

The national government has finalized the identification of land for the construction of a new airport and an international sports stadium in Kisii County. Speaking during a developmental tour of the region, President William Ruto confirmed that the proposed aviation facility will be situated in the Nyangusu area. This decision follows long-standing logistical hurdles regarding the expansion of existing airstrips in the region, which have frequently faced challenges related to hilly terrain and high population density.

According to the President, the acquisition of the land in Nyangusu is a central component of a broader infrastructure plan intended to improve connectivity within the South Nyanza region. The Ministry of Roads and Transport is expected to oversee the technical assessments of the site. Previous attempts to expand the Suneka Airstrip were met with limitations due to the lack of adequate space for a standard runway capable of handling larger commercial aircraft. The shift to Nyangusu suggests a fresh approach to establishing a viable aviation hub that can serve Kisii, Nyamira, and parts of Narok and Migori counties.

In addition to the airport project, the government has designated space for the construction of a new international stadium. This facility is intended to provide a modern venue for national and regional sporting events, moving beyond the current capacity of the Gusii Stadium. The President noted that the Ministry of Sports will work in coordination with local leadership to ensure the project meets the required standards for international competition.

Funding for these projects will be channeled through the respective line ministries, with the budget expected to be detailed in the upcoming fiscal cycles. The President emphasized that these developments are part of a national strategy to decentralize high-level infrastructure from Nairobi to the counties. This move aligns with the government’s stated goals under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which prioritizes regional hubs as drivers of local economic activity.

Beyond the transport and sports sectors, the administration is also looking at the rehabilitation of the local road network to ensure that the new facilities are accessible. Reliable road links between the proposed airport site and Kisii town will be necessary for the project to realize its full utility. While a specific commencement date for the construction has not been set, the identification of land is often the most significant bottleneck for major projects in the region due to land fragmentation and high costs of compensation.

Local leaders have previously called for such investments to help unlock the agricultural potential of Kisii, particularly for the export of perishable goods. A functional airport would allow for the direct transport of horticultural products to wider markets, bypassing the long road journeys to Eldoret or Nairobi. The national government has indicated that it will engage with the County Government of Kisii to ensure that the transition of land and the subsequent zoning regulations are handled according to the law.

As the government moves toward the procurement stage for these projects, the focus will likely shift to the environmental impact assessments and the technical designs required for a high-altitude airport. The Nyangusu site will undergo rigorous testing to ensure it meets the safety standards set by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and other international bodies.