Moi International Airport is in the middle of a major rehabilitation programme targeting its runway pavement and airfield ground lighting systems, as Kenya Airports Authority moves to extend the life and safety of the coastal gateway.
The update was announced on 20 November 2018, when Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia joined officials in Mombasa for the groundbreaking ceremony. He praised the Kenya Airports Authority for maintaining aviation infrastructure and said the airport remains central to tourism, business travel and other arrivals into the coast.
Macharia said continued investment was necessary to protect the airport’s safety record and improve efficiency. He was accompanied by Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and Transport Principal Secretary Esther Koimett.
Also present were French Ambassador to Kenya Aline Kuster Meneger, French Honorary Consul in Mombasa Mohamed Ramazani and Mombasa Deputy Governor Dr William Kingi.
Kenya Airports Authority Managing Director and CEO Johnny Anderssen said the runway’s average lifespan is 20 to 25 years, noting that the last major rehabilitation at Moi International Airport was carried out in 1994 by Pacific Consultants International PCI, a Japanese company.
Anderssen said preparations for the project began in 2014. He said the process covered a runway condition study, the business case, funding arrangements and the final scope of works.
He added that in the previous year KAA completed the process and secured USD65 million, representing 93% of the funding, from Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) and the World Bank, with funding consultants costing USD 900,000.
The total contract sum for the upgrade is Sh7,008,516.59. The works are split into three parts: civil works on the runway pavements, reconstruction of sections of the taxiways and aprons, and removal and replacement of pre-cast concrete slabs.
The project also covers airfield ground lighting, including replacement of runway, threshold, end, taxiway LED, approach and apron-end fittings, as well as taxiway primary and secondary cables, transformers, drainage improvements, slope stabilization and ground stabilization.
Anderssen said the Mombasa area has long dealt with sink holes, adding that the rehabilitation is meant to address the problem more permanently. He said the completed works will add another 20 to 25 years to the runway’s lifespan and improve passenger comfort and safety.
Balala said the upgrade was important because the region continues to draw more international tourists arriving by air. He said the airport can handle 2 million passengers a year but is currently serving only about 300,000 annually, describing it as underutilized.
He also urged the national carrier to introduce direct flights linking Mombasa with European cities such as London and Rome.
