Editor's Review

"Air transport is no longer a luxury for the chosen few. It is now a necessity to ease the cost of doing business," Rigathi Gachagua.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday, December 14, flagged off the inaugural commercial flight from Wilson Airport to Kakamega Airstrip.

Speaking during a press conference at Wilson Airport, the DP said that the people of Western Kenya have for many years requested active air service to the region.

Gachagua said that the government partnered with Skyward Express through the intervention of President William Ruto to launch a route to Kakamega.

The second in command further said that the Kenya Kwanza government was keen on partnering with the private sector, including airline operators, to improve the country's business environment.

DP Rigathi Gachagua alights from plane headed to Kakamega.

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"The people of Western have, for a long time, requested for flights to the town owing to its growth over time both as a commercial and education hub. The Kenya Kwanza Administration remains keen to growing partnership with the private sector, including airline operators. This is in our quest to improving the country’s business environment," Gachagua said.

The DP said that a while ago when he served as a District Officer in Kakamega, he faced challenges in moving from Nairobi to the area as road transport consumed more time.

Rigathi Gachagua interacts with passengers.

"Many years ago, while I served as a District Officer in Kakamega, it would take me over six hours to travel from Nairobi to the area. With this flight, one will save time and energy for other productive engagements," he said.

Gachagua said that air transport was no longer a luxury but a necessity to ease the cost of doing business and make it easy and convenient to travel. 

Passengers board the inaugural commercial flight to Kakamega.

He further added that the government was keen on enabling air transport across many counties. Gachagua was accompanied by Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen.

The flagging off of the first commercial flight to Kakamega comes after President Ruto commissioned the newly rehabilitated Kakamega Airstrip on December 9, 2022.