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{
    "id": 1552864,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552864/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 193,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Davis Chirchir",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "A recommendation of fully reconstructing the runway made due to the failures that have been observed since inception is done. There is a bit of clay and cotton soil there. We need to redo it. It will cost us Kshs1.5 billion for the runway extension of 3.5 kilometres to land the bigger flights. Extending the runway will cost us Kshs1.5 billion. We need to put in a fire station at an additional Kshs300 million. We need also to complete the airport perimeter fence. We need to do airfield ground at an estimated cost of Ksh250 million and an aircraft traffic control tower. The expansion noted above may cost an additional Kshs300 million. Furthermore, improving drainage around the airport to address waterlogging caused by the soil type will cost us Kshs300 million. Additional funding will also be needed for land acquisition to facilitate VIP car parks, hangars and road expansion. The total budget, as I had stated, is Kshs4.8 billion. To reiterate, given Isiolo’s strategic location within the LAPSSET Corridor, we are committed to securing the investment already in place by ensuring the airport's completion. Regarding the question of why the airport is not operational and the steps being taken to address this, the facility currently accommodates unscheduled flights, mainly involving caravans and helicopters. However, it faces significant runway defects due to flooding caused by terrain challenges and expansive black cotton soil. These issues have led to low pavement classification values, limiting the type of aircraft that can operate safely. In November, 2020, the KAA engaged the Material Testing and Research Division under the Ministry of Transport to assess the runway pavement and recommend corrective action. The KAA is awaiting additional funding from the National Treasury to address these issues with proposals that include reconstructing the runway."
}