Eldoret Airport Cries Out for State Assistance

January 12, 2004

Eldoret Airport Cries Out for State Assistance
Financial Standard, Kenya

Two months after the lifting of flight ban to the
Eldoret International Airport, business at the airport
has since struggled to recover from its effect.

The airport’s abrupt closure has virtually crippled
operations and its spillover effects have adversely
affected business in the region. 

This worrying scenario has, however, raised alarm
among key business players who are now demanding
speedy government intervention.

Led by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (KNCCI) Uasin-Gishu branch chairman, Mr
Charles Mose, the businessmen want the Government to
launch an aggressive marketing campaign to jump-start
business at the deserted airport.

Joining forces with representatives of the Kenya
Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Eldoret branch led
by chairman Peter Ogolla, the businessmen says only an
aggressive marketing will help turnaround business at
the modern airport complex.

"Tax-payers money was used to construct this airport
and the government should not leave it to remain a
white elephant the way it is today," Mose told The
Financial Standard in an interview in Eldoret town.

Before the ban on cargo flights was imposed, the
airport used to generate close to Sh12 millions to the
Government coffers on weekly basis from cargo flights
landings, with most of them coming from the
middle-East.

The airport was then receiving an average of three to
four cargo flights per week. This number may appear
modest, but helped generate funding for the
multi-million shilling complex.

The bulk of the goods ferried through the airport
included electronic goods,jewels and computer
components among others. 

Transport and Communications Minister, Mr John Michuki
imposed the cargo ban over alleged claims of entry
into the country of sub-standard goods, evasion of
taxes, illegal firearms and drugs entry.

The ban saw North-Rift leaders come-up with strong
criticism of the government, arguing that the
minister’s action had hidden agenda and was meant to
ground the airport.

The leaders including Members of Parliament took to
the streets to demonstrate in an effort to compel the
government to lift the ban.

The cargo flight ban was finally lifted two months
ago, but the situation has since became worse. Prior
to the ban being lifted, the government transferred 51
employees from the airport, bringing in a new team to
run the facility in a bold move that was designed to
tighten security at the airport. The then airport
Manager Mr S Nyole was also transferred in the major
shuffle. 

According to the KNCCI and KAM officials, the airport
was unlikely to realise serious business unless the
government shows strong support to win back lost
businesses.

Apart from launching an aggressive marketing for the
airport, Mose and Ogolla want the Government to
de-congest Wilson Airport in Nairobi by convincing
airlines to use the Eldoret international airport
instead and provide incentives packages that will help
woo operators.

The two further suggest that humanitarian food and
other cargo products destined to Lokichoggio in
Turkana district should be airlifted from Eldoret. "It
is sad that fish from Kisumu is first ferried to
Nairobi before being air-lifted to Lokichoggio," said
Mose.

Also recommended is a review of airlines fare
structure in a bid to make them affordable, a move
they say will encourage more people, especially in the
North-Rift region to start using air transport.

Mose says that due to the high flight charges to
Eldoret airport, some tourists visiting parks and
other attractions in the North-Rift region preferred
to fly to Kisumu first before travelling by road to
the region.

"Recently, some 200 tourists who were visiting a park
in Trans-Nzoia had to fly to Kisumu before travelling
by road to Kitale, yet flying to Eldoret and
proceeding to Kitale by road would have been ideal,"
explained Mose.

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