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{
"id": 1552862,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552862/?format=api",
"text_counter": 191,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Davis Chirchir",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. The response to the question from the Member for Isiolo County concerning the Isiolo Airport is as follows- Part (a) is seeking the total amount of money that the Government has so far allocated and utilised in the project for the modernisation and rehabilitation of Isiolo Airport. Isiolo Airport is an international airport given its location on the Lamu, Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor. We need to open up that corridor for economic activities of this country because the current northern corridor is very congested. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I say this deliberately because Isiolo Airport is an international airport. I could see Aerodrome featuring a single asphalt runway that measures 1.4 kilometres in length and 30 metres in width, three numbered taxiways and an apron. The airport is on approximately 800 acres, that is, 330 acres of land. It is in both Isiolo and Meru counties. Major construction work started in 2011 and was completed in 2017. The airport modernisation is part of the LAPSSET Corridor Development Project as well as Kenya's Vision 2030 programme. Isiolo International Airport was strategically planned to enhance access to northern Kenya and connect the region with major cities and international destinations, thereby promoting tourism and business travel. The airport aims to stimulate economic growth and attract investment. Plans include expansion to further enhance its services and operational efficiency. The construction of the airport was executed in three phases, with phase one being the development of the runway and taxiway in the financial year 2011/2013. Phase two was the construction of the passenger terminal building, office block and car park. It was completed in 2016. Development of the access road, apron, expansion and drainage works of phase three was completed in 2017. The cost of phase one was Kshs844 million, phase two was Kshs963 million and phase three was Kshs849 million. The cost of the runway pavement was Kshs47.95 million. In item 5 on that table, there is runway pavement rehabilitation work. That started in financial year 2021/2022 at a cost Kshs55 million. There is a proposed construction cargo processing facility at a cost of Kshs24.3 million, which started in 2021 and was completed. The erection of flood street lights and installation works, which started in 2017 and was finished in 2018, at a cost of Kshs27.78 The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1552863,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552863/?format=api",
"text_counter": 192,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Davis Chirchir",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport",
"speaker": null,
"content": "million. There is extra mechanical service construction of a pump house, an elevated water tank and a borehole, which also has been completed for Kshs55 million. There is relocation of a school, KK Nkengecia Phase One and there is also a Phase Two with both costing Kshs97 million, that is Kshs76.4 million and Kshs20.4 million, respectively. With the project total and both having been completed, with the project cost at Kshs2.974 billion, approximately 3 billion, you can see the significance of the big investment. We need to get down to answer the next question. Why is the airport not operational after that level of expenditure? One the question of the compensation to residents who are displaced as a result of the project and how we are planning to finalize the compensation, on 2nd November, 2004, the Isiolo County Government agreed to set aside a portion of trustland for the expansion and promised alternative land for those affected in nearby areas. A similar discussion took place in the defunct County Council of Meru North. The authority consulted with stakeholders, including district commissioners at that time, culminating in a supportive workshop that took place on 14th January, 2005. The benefits of the airport project were highlighted, leading to further collaborative planning between the councils. After completing a joint fiscal planning exercise, the park development plans were submitted and approved by the Ministry of Lands and Housing in April 2006. The authority received a letter of allotment for approximately 253 hectares on 23rd May, 2006. Meanwhile, in or around November 2004, the then Isiolo County Council conducted an identification exercise of persons affected by the expansion of the airstrip. A full council adoption of the same was obtained and the affected persons were to be relocated by the County Council of Isiolo. As of today, due to multiple conflicts and claims, the authority has not been able to compensate the project affected persons because the genuine affected persons by the airport expansion have not been identified. In the process of vetting genuine persons and determining just compensation for the land used for expansion of the airport solely lies with the National Land Commission (NLC). In addition, there are multiple court land matters about Isiolo International Airport, which we have annexed. Certainly, given the time frame and the historical time frame, we just need to complete that. Therefore, we need to get the NLC together with the county government and, of course, ourselves to close that issue, as the concern has been brought out by Sen. Dullo. As regarding plans to extend the runway at the airport, and if so, whether we can provide a timeline, we have listed our projects that have been planned to make Isiolo International Airport fully functional, to support both passenger and cargo traffic, and then support that investment that has been put on the ground. These projects are all dependent with the allocation of funding. Isiolo being where it is in the LAPSSET Corridor, we will work very closely with the National Treasury to ensure that with the projected budget estimate that I have enumerated of Kshs4.8 billion, that covers what we need to do. That include rehabilitation of the existing runway through the mid-term programme, an evaluation of the existing runway which was done. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"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."
},
{
"id": 1552865,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552865/?format=api",
"text_counter": 194,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) left the Chair]"
},
{
"id": 1552866,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552866/?format=api",
"text_counter": 195,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Abdul Haji) took the Chair]"
},
{
"id": 1552867,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552867/?format=api",
"text_counter": 196,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Davis Chirchir",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as previously mentioned, the defects pose serious risks, including safety hazards, operational limitations and increased maintenance costs. Addressing these issues is a priority, as timely repairs are crucial to enhance safety, expand operational capacity, reduce long-term costs and attract more users, ensuring the facility's long term viability. Members are reminded of the significance of Isiolo’s geo positioning within the LAPSSET Corridor. Therefore, it is a matter of national interest, as much as it is of interest to the Senator for Isiolo County. Thank you."
},
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"id": 1552868,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552868/?format=api",
"text_counter": 197,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abdul Haji",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Sen. Dullo, you can ask your supplementary question."
},
{
"id": 1552869,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552869/?format=api",
"text_counter": 198,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Dullo",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13125,
"legal_name": "Dullo Fatuma Adan",
"slug": "dullo-fatuma-adan"
},
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, and Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Chirchir, for your response. Unfortunately, I received the response just half an hour before his arrival. I might not have the ability to interrogate it thoroughly. However, since I am familiar with the situation on the ground, I can raise further questions on the matter. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1552870,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552870/?format=api",
"text_counter": 199,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Dullo",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13125,
"legal_name": "Dullo Fatuma Adan",
"slug": "dullo-fatuma-adan"
},
"content": "Regarding the airport, which began construction in 2011, you have reiterated its importance to both the Government and the people in the region. Considering the Kenya Kwanza bottom-up approach, this airport should have significantly benefited the local community. Additionally, it would help ease congestion at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), particularly for those transporting miraa and conducting business in the northern parts of the country."
},
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"id": 1552871,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1552871/?format=api",
"text_counter": 200,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Waziri,"
}
]
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