Once gateway to Northern Kenya, now grazing grounds: The decline of Kishaunet airstrip
Residents of West Pokot County are urging the government to rehabilitate the neglected Kishaunet Airstrip, which is in a dire state.
Located in Kamito area, Mnagei Ward, Kapenguria, the airstrip presents a sorry sight: a dusty stretch of bare land overrun with overgrown shrubs, twigs, and a fallen fence. To a newcomer, it might appear to be a children’s playground or a grazing field rather than an airstrip.
The facility, which covers 20 acres of land, lies about 10km from the county government headquarters. Despite its strategic location, the runway is in disrepair and has become a symbol of neglect.
The once-functional airstrip now remains largely unused. Local children play on the tarmac, and it occasionally serves as a training ground for new drivers. Meanwhile, cattle and donkeys roam freely, and the area is often used as a shortcut by trespassers looking to shorten their commute across the land.
Despite its dilapidated state, the airstrip has not been entirely forgotten. In April 2024, President William Ruto made an unexpected landing at the facility on his way to open the Sebit Clinker plant in the county. Locals were taken by surprise when the Head of State landed at the facility, where he spent about an hour engaging with residents. Prior to this, however, no aircraft had been recorded as landing at Kishaunet in over two years.
The airstrip, originally established by the colonial government in the 1950s, had its perimeter fenced with barbed wire by the Kapenguria Municipal Council in 2003. But much of the fencing has since fallen into disrepair.
The current condition of the facility raises serious concerns about its safety. The runway is still not tarmacked, and landing a large aircraft on the dirt surface would require a highly skilled pilot. Moreover, there is no gate, and the airstrip lacks any signage, despite once being hailed as the gateway to Northern Kenya.
According to former Kapenguria Mayor Christopher Lonyala, promises to rehabilitate the airstrip have not been fulfilled. He explains that the airstrip became underutilized as few people traveled by air before devolution, but its potential to ease the transportation of horticultural products had prompted hopes of improvement.
Resident Chris Sirma notes that landings are rare, often coinciding with political seasons when aircrafts occasionally touch down for campaign purposes.
Nominated County Assembly Member Elijah Kasheusheu believes that rehabilitating the airstrip could boost land values and spur development in the area, attracting social amenities.
Residents who donated land for the airstrip’s construction had hoped the facility would be upgraded when devolution began in 2013. Purity Chebet Simotwo recalls that they even envisioned space for shops and hotels, but now, they are calling on the Kenya Kwanza government to investigate the matter and consider constructing a modern, fully operational airstrip.
Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong, who chairs the Regional Development Committee in Parliament, expressed disappointment that the promised funding for the airstrip’s rehabilitation has not materialized. Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the airstrip’s rehabilitation is long overdue. He pledged to engage with the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) about the possibility of acquiring additional land for expansion.
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin assured residents that plans are in place to expand the airstrip’s land area, should renovation work go ahead.
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