by Vivian Anyango
The Kenyan government has unveiled an ambitious expansion plan for Eldoret International Airport aimed at transforming it into a top-tier regional cargo hub. The project, spearheaded by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, will see the airport’s runway extended from its current 3.5 kilometers to up to 4.1 kilometers—enabling it to accommodate fully loaded wide-body freighters such as Boeing 747Fs.
The extended runway will significantly boost the airport’s cargo handling capacity, positioning Eldoret as a strategic gateway for exports, especially of high-value perishables from the North Rift region.
“This upgrade is not just an infrastructure project; it’s a key part of our national and regional economic strategy,” said CS Murkomen during a project briefing. “By improving Eldoret’s connectivity to international markets, we are opening up opportunities for our farmers, agribusinesses, and exporters.”
To support the runway expansion, the government plans to acquire 38 to 50 acres of adjacent land. This space will cater for safety overshoots, new facilities, and future scalability. Additional enhancements include the construction of a jet fuel station, cold storage warehouses, advanced airfield lighting, new taxiways, strengthened runway shoulders, and expanded apron areas for efficient aircraft handling.
The upgrades come as the North Rift Economic Bloc intensifies efforts to promote Eldoret as a regional logistics hub. Counties in the bloc are backing the project, viewing it as vital to unlocking the economic potential of Kenya’s breadbasket.
Exporters of flowers, avocados, fruits, and vegetables—traditionally reliant on road transport to Nairobi—stand to benefit greatly. The improved airport will allow them to ship goods directly from Eldoret to key international markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, reducing costs, spoilage, and delays.
Once complete, the project is expected to stimulate job creation, increase foreign exchange earnings, and enhance Kenya’s global competitiveness in agricultural exports.
The expansion is projected to be finalized within the next two to three years, pending the resolution of land acquisition matters—particularly around the former Aerotech land—and the mobilization of funding.
If delivered as planned, Eldoret International Airport will not only elevate the region’s economic status but also become a cornerstone in Kenya’s broader export-led growth agenda.
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