By Ben Okweingoti.
Leaders in Kilifi County have renewed calls for the government to urgently compensate landowners and squatters affected by the planned expansion of Malindi International Airport, warning that continued delays are undermining tourism growth along the North Coast.
The leaders also urged the government to honour its commitment to officially open the Ronald Ngala Utalii College in September, as earlier announced by Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok.
Speaking during a tourism stakeholders' engagement in Malindi, Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi said the prolonged delay in expanding the airport to accommodate larger aircraft, coupled with the failure to operationalize the tourism college, had denied the region significant economic opportunities.
Madzayo called on the government to ensure that promises made to the people of Kilifi are fulfilled without further postponement.
"We want assurance that whatever the government has announced will become a reality. We have waited for too long for the operationalization of the Ronald Ngala Utalii College, and if the Tourism PS has said the first intake will be in September, then that commitment should be honoured," he said.
The senator also insisted that landowners and squatters affected by the airport expansion must receive their compensation before any relocation takes place.
"Those landowners and squatters should be paid quickly so that we can expand the airport to international standards," he added.
The compensation dispute has delayed the long-awaited airport expansion project for years. The affected residents are demanding Sh2.5 billion in compensation after being displaced during the first phase of the project. The dispute has since been the subject of litigation before the courts and the Land Acquisition Tribunal (LAT), which hears appeals arising from decisions of the National Land Commission (NLC).
In 2015, about 230 residents received Sh423 million from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) as compensation for structures demolished during the project. However, payment for land acquisition—estimated at Sh2.5 billion—has reportedly remained outstanding for more than 15 years.
Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi said the delayed airport expansion continues to hurt the tourism sector by limiting direct international access to the region.
Tourism industry players echoed the leaders' concerns, saying improved infrastructure is critical to unlocking the area's full tourism potential.
Maureen Awuor, General Manager of Ocean Beach Resort and Spa in Malindi and Chairperson of the Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers (North Coast Region), said Malindi and neighbouring Mambrui were emerging as key tourism destinations, citing new attractions such as the "Kenyan Dubai" development.
She noted that expanding the airport would make the destinations more accessible to international visitors and boost investment in the region.
Meanwhile, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Chief Executive Officer June Chepkemei said Kenya's tourism sector continues to register strong growth, with the country recording 8 million tourists, comprising 5.2 million domestic and 2.7 million international visitors.
Chepkemei emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration between government and industry players to strengthen the sector.
"We welcome this engagement and will continue working closely with the private sector to foster better coordination between government, industry, academia and non-state actors in growing Kenya's tourism sector," she said.
