Kericho: Angry Residents Protest At Abandoned Kerenga Airstrip Days After Launching Fundraiser

• It was business unusual as residents of Kericho County descended on Kerenga Airstrip to protest against the government
• They carried placards and threatened to plant maize and trees in the airstrip if the land remained unused
• The demonstration comes a week after they launched a fundraiser aimed at building the facility themselves

The Kericho community, spearheaded by its youth, recently convened at the site of the abandoned Kerenga Airstrip.

They carried placards demanding answers from the government regarding what they term a white elephant project.

How much money was Kerenga Airstrip allocated?

The project cost the government nearly KSh 60 million but has become a stark symbol of failed promises and wasted resources.

They gathered near the location that once held great promise for the region but now stands as a monument to stalled progress.

Many attendees expressed deep frustration and disappointment over the project's abandonment.

Anger among the community was mainly directed at the contractor, who had been entrusted with the construction work.

What are residents doing to revive stalled airstrip?

The lack of progress raised concerns about the accountability and transparency of those overseeing the project.

Some residents have taken proactive steps to seek external support in response to the situation.

They contacted several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the Obama Foundation and the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, to secure funding.

The community hopes the abandoned project located within the Belgut Constituency can finally be completed with external assistance.

Complaints from residents over Kerenga Airstrip

During the heated protest, the disillusioned residents demanded accountability and called for immediate action from those responsible.

Larry, a local leader, emphasised the need for an audit by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to hold those responsible accountable.

Another participant, Vallary Chebet, voiced her frustration by suggesting an alternative use for the land:

"Kama hawataki kutupa airstrip, watuwachie tupande miti na mahindi" ("If they don't want to give us the airstrip, let them leave it to us to plant trees and maize").

One of the organisers, Kelvin Kipchirchir Ufa, hinted at potential hidden truths regarding the project's mismanagement.

He urged the former CS for Roads, Kipchumba Murkomen, to come forward with answers.

"Let him not hide. We need answers for the misappropriated funds even before any second allocation," he declared.

Residents launch fundraiser to build Kerenga Airstrip

The protest comes a week after the residents launched a fundraiser to build the airstrip.

They lamented that the inaction had left the airstrip in disrepair, hindering the region's potential economic growth and connectivity.

Group members pledged cement, labour, and other airport amenities like binoculars and wind socks.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke