Kisumu: The government has concluded the construction of a new state-of-the-art air traffic control tower at Kisumu International Airport, a development expected to significantly enhance safety, efficiency, and airspace management at one of Kenya's fastest-growing aviation hubs.
According to Kenya News Agency, Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo on Thursday led the National Development Implementation Committee (NDIC) on an oversight and verification visit to the tower, which is now complete and awaiting final equipment transfer before full commissioning. The project, implemented by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), reinforces the airport's Class 3 status and strengthens its role as a key gateway for the Lake Region Economic Bloc and neighboring countries including Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.
Dr. Omollo, who chairs the Governance and Public Administration Sub-Committee of NDIC, led the delegation of more than ten principal secretaries, the solicitor-general, several chief executives of state agencies, regional security teams, and senior Kisumu County officials for the oversight and verification mission. He said the visit was part of a broader government program to assess priority projects in Nyanza and ensure timely delivery of development commitments.
Dr. Omollo stated that the Kisumu Tower was the first of four key projects being inspected in the region, alongside the Kenya Maritime Rescue Centre, the Lumumba Affordable Housing Estate, and the stalled Kisumu International Convention Centre, which is being revived jointly by the State Department for Devolution and the county government. He highlighted ongoing renovation and expansion efforts at the airport and urged the media to focus on development gains made under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Aviation and Aerospace Development PS Teresia Mbaika emphasized that the new tower meets international regulatory standards and will allow full end-to-end visibility of the runway, which was not possible with the old structure. She noted that the State Department was also upgrading the terminal building, while the Kenya Airports Authority was expanding the runway's width on the remaining 300 meters to improve aircraft handling. Strengthening regional airports such as Kisumu, she added, will ease pressure on Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and open up western Kenya for increased passenger and cargo operations.
The tower was constructed by Polish contractors, whose director, Polycarp Mburo, said the company had completed the building and ICT infrastructure, with KCAA now set to move in newly acquired equipment. He emphasized that the project demonstrates the capacity of local contractors to deliver high-quality public infrastructure when given the opportunity, ensuring capital remains within the local economy.