A row is brewing over the location of an airport that the President promised during his tour of parts of western Kenya earlier this week. Leaders from the Gusii and Maasai communities are locked in a dispute over the proposed location of the airport at Nyangusu, in Gucha District, which is on the border with Trans Mara District.

A section of MPs led by Public Works minister Chris Obure and his Education counterpart, Prof Sam Ongeri, had proposed the site.  Kilgoris MP Gideon Konchella accused the two ministers of leading a delegation to State House to discuss the project, which is expected to cover part of his constituency, without consulting Maasai leaders.

But Prof Ongeri downplayed the rift, saying the two communities had coexisted harmoniously and that the location of the airport at the common boarder was meant to spread the benefits to both sides.  “Let us look at what we stand to gain and there should be no negative approach to this issue,” he said.  But Mr Konchella said if the airport is constructed at the location proposed by Prof Ongeri’s group, it would destroy water towers and encroach on farm land.  Instead, the Kilgoris MP, who was supported by a host of local councillors, suggested that the site be moved to Matengwar, eight kilometres away.

Water towers

During the President’s visit to the site on Tuesday, Mr Konchella complained that his constituents were feeling neglected, arguing that his area had only 10 kilometres of tarmac road. The visit was preceded by a meeting of councillors, who threatened to block the construction of the airport unless it was moved to another site. The President urged the leaders to resolve the row quickly to allow construction to start.