The upgrade of the Migori Airstrip is set for completion this year, presenting a significant boost for tourism, trade, and travellers in Nyanza and the wider Western region.
Barnabas Nyonda, the officer in charge, stated that once the upgrade is finished by December, the airstrip, known as Lichota Airstrip, will be capable of handling half a million travellers annually. The project, which commenced in September 2025, will elevate the facility from Class C to Class B, transforming it into an international airport. The terminal is undergoing renovations at a cost of Ksh. 300 million, while the runway is being extended from 1.8 km to 2 km.
The upgrade is expected to create jobs and stimulate overall economic growth in the Western region and the entire country. Migori County is counting on the project to attract more airlines, increase air traffic, and enhance connectivity to national and international destinations.
Currently, the airstrip accommodates 12 flights daily, a number that is expected to rise significantly once the upgrade is completed. At present, there is one scheduled flight operated by Skyward airline, alongside several chartered flights.
The revamped Lichota Airstrip will greatly benefit visitors to popular tourist destinations, including the Maasai Mara and Serengeti game parks, as well as Thim Lich Ohinga, a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site in Migori. This will provide easier access to attractions in both Migori and Tanzania, while also allowing for seamless travel to Kisumu, Kisii, and Homa Bay.
In addition to enhancing passenger travel, the airport will facilitate the movement of cargo, particularly agricultural and fish products, to various markets within the country and beyond. Furthermore, it will establish a direct connection between Kenya and Tanzania, acting as a key enabler of trade between the two nations.
Nyonda says the facility will help reduce the road traffic clearance at the border post into Tanzania.
“Travellers to Tanzania and Uganda will get clearance at the airstrip,” says Mr Nyonda, noting that it will be possible for passengers to fly directly to Johannesburg from Migori.
“We expect to see an increase in the number of tourists both at the national and county levels,” Mr Nyonda says, noting that Kenya can safeguard its stature as the gateway to the region by expanding connectivity internationally and locally.
Having faced many years of neglect, the airstrip had sunk into a state of disrepair, and the upgrade could not have come at a better time for travellers and traders.
“Before we embarked on the upgrade, there was a mini runway built way back in 1978,” says Mr Nyonda. “The runway was battered and kept making news for the wrong reasons. ”
Even when it was in a poor state, he says the airstrip kept receiving tourism flights. Noting that the site office was too small to accommodate visitors, Nyonda says the airstrip lacked even a shelter for visitors when it rained, terming this “a shame.”
But people who will visit the facility in December will be surprised by the airstrip’s level of facelift, he says.
Site engineer Edwin Ondoro says there are about 100 people working on the project.
“The project is proceeding well. It has enabled a good number of people to earn a living,” Mr Ondoro notes.
Jacquline Adaro, one of the workers, says the project has given her an opportunity to earn a living. “I thank President William Ruto for this project. I can now put food on the table and meet other financial obligations,” she says.
One of the tourist sites looking to benefit from the revamped Migori airstrip is the Ndere National Park in Seme, Kisumu County. The park boasts a wide range of animals, including zebra, Hippos, crocodiles and diverse species of birds. Others are waterbuck, warthog, monkey and the rare sitatunga. It also offers a rich menu of activities comprising bird watching, boat riding and hiking, among other attractions.
Pauline Adhiambo, a warden, says the park receives many international visitors, adding that it has a huge potential to attract a higher number of tourists and bring more benefits, including more jobs, to the region.
“The youth can be tour guides, taking visitors around in boats. By doing so, they earn directly from the park,” Ms Adhiambo says.
Aside from being home to a wide range of wild animals, Ndere National Park is a vantage point, overlooking beautiful scenery sweeping across the region. Patrick Kiboi, an assistant warden, says standing at some strategic locations at the park, one can command a breathtakingly panoramic view of Kisumu city and as far places as Homa Bay town and parts of Siaya.
