Kenya: Millions Spent, No Flights - Ruto Makes Fresh Promise On Kisii Airport

What the report says

President William Ruto has again pledged to upgrade Suneka Airstrip in Kisii County into a fully operational airport, according to Capital FM as distributed by AllAfrica. He made the remarks during a tour of the Gusii region in Bonchari Constituency, where the airstrip is located, and said the national government would work with Kisii Governor Simba Arati to extend the runway and improve the facility for larger aircraft.

The report says the promise revives a long-running project that has not yet delivered commercial flights despite significant public spending. Suneka first underwent major rehabilitation in 2015, including a passenger lounge, toilets, a car park, an administration block, a perimeter fence and runway markings. In 2020, additional funding was set aside for further expansion, and the Kenya Airports Authority later carried out runway rehabilitation works, but the project stalled after the contractor left the site.

The article adds that official accounts showed the work had reached only partial completion before demobilization in 2022. It also notes shifting government plans: Ruto previously suggested closing the airstrip in 2023, before later reversing course after consultations with Gusii leaders. In 2025 and 2026, other officials said the site would be recommissioned and that a new contractor had taken over. The development matters because a completed airport could reduce reliance on facilities in neighboring counties and improve travel and business access in Kisii.