The Matulo Airport Expansion project is emerging as one of the most significant infrastructure developments in Western Kenya, with the government positioning the upgraded aviation facility as a future regional transport and trade hub.
Located in Webuye, Bungoma County, the former Matulo Airstrip has rapidly evolved from a rehabilitated ceremonial airstrip into a strategic aviation project expected to reshape connectivity across Western Kenya. The facility has already been cleared for commercial flights following inspections by the Kenya Airports Authority and aviation stakeholders.
President William Ruto on Saturday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the facility, confirming plans for runway upgrades, land acquisition and the construction of a modern passenger terminal.
The Matulo Airport Expansion is also closely linked to broader transport investments across Kenya’s Western, Rift Valley and Nyanza regions, including the planned Ksh130 billion Mau Summit-Malaba highway project.
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Government Pushes Matulo Airport Expansion
Speaking during a meeting with Bungoma faith leaders at State House Nairobi, President William Ruto said the government had already directed the Kenya Airports Authority to accelerate plans for the Matulo Airport Expansion.
“At the Matulo airport, I had already asked your governor to allocate land, and I have also instructed KAA to extend the runway and construct a terminal building,” Ruto said.
The Head of State noted that the terminal building is expected to be completed before the end of the year, while additional land acquisition plans are underway to facilitate further runway extension.
“Very soon we will be landing seamlessly in Matulo airport in Bungoma,” the President added.
The Matulo Airport Expansion aims to transform the current 1.1-kilometre runway into a 2.5-kilometre aviation facility capable of accommodating larger commercial aircraft and boosting passenger traffic into the region.
Commercial Flights Cleared to Begin
The Matulo Airport Expansion has already reached an important operational milestone.
Following inspections conducted jointly by the Kenya Airports Authority and airline operators, commercial flight operations have been approved at the facility.
Regional carriers, including Skyward Express, are reportedly preparing to launch scheduled flights linking Bungoma and neighboring counties to Nairobi and other destinations.
The approval marks a major shift for a facility that until recently served limited aviation functions.
The airstrip had initially undergone rehabilitation ahead of Kenya’s 61st Madaraka Day celebrations, where national leaders gathered in Bungoma County for the annual state event.
That initial rehabilitation phase reportedly cost approximately Ksh139 million and was completed ahead of schedule.
Now, the Matulo Airport Expansion is transitioning from a ceremonial infrastructure project into a long-term regional economic investment.
Strategic Importance of Matulo Airport
The location of the Matulo Airport Expansion project gives it significant regional importance.
Webuye sits within a strategic corridor linking Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia and Trans-Nzoia counties. Officials estimate the airport can be reached within roughly 30 minutes from major neighboring counties, making it one of the most accessible planned aviation hubs in Western Kenya.
The project is expected to improve:
- Regional business travel
- Agricultural exports
- Tourism access
- Cross-border trade
- Emergency medical transport
- Investment attraction
Western Kenya remains one of the country’s most economically active agricultural regions, producing sugar, maize, dairy products and other commodities. Improved aviation infrastructure could significantly reduce travel time for investors and business operators.
The Matulo Airport Expansion is therefore increasingly viewed as a catalyst for broader economic transformation.
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Competition and Complementarity With Kakamega Airport
President William Ruto also confirmed that expansion works at Kakamega Airport are already 70 percent complete.
Rather than competing directly, analysts believe the two airports could operate as complementary regional facilities serving different parts of Western Kenya.
The Matulo Airport Expansion could particularly strengthen Bungoma’s position as a commercial and logistics center because of its proximity to the Uganda border and the Northern Corridor trade route.
Kenya has increasingly focused on decentralizing infrastructure investment away from Nairobi in an effort to stimulate regional economic growth.
Mau Summit-Malaba Highway Project Linked to Airport Plans
The Matulo Airport Expansion announcement came alongside confirmation of another major infrastructure investment.
President Ruto disclosed that the government had secured financing for feasibility studies tied to the planned Ksh130 billion Mau Summit-Malaba highway.
The project would extend approximately 300 kilometres along one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors.
The road expansion is expected to improve cargo movement between:
- Nairobi
- Nakuru
- Western Kenya
- Uganda
- East African regional markets
Ruto said he expects to officially launch construction of the Mau Summit-Malaba highway in April 2026 during the commissioning of the Ksh250 billion Rironi-Mau Summit highway project.
“The road from Rironi to Mau Summit will be complete by April. Thousands of Kenyans from Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley have been struggling along the highway, getting stuck every time,” the President said.
The Matulo Airport Expansion therefore forms part of a much larger transport modernization agenda aimed at strengthening Kenya’s internal and regional connectivity.
Regional Economic Expectations Rising
Leaders in Western Kenya have welcomed the Matulo Airport Expansion project, describing it as long overdue infrastructure capable of unlocking economic opportunities for millions of residents.
Local leaders envision the airport eventually evolving into a larger international aviation facility connecting Western Kenya directly to regional and global destinations.
Business groups believe the airport could stimulate growth in sectors including:
- Hospitality
- Real estate
- Manufacturing
- Logistics
- Agriculture
- Tourism
Improved air connectivity could also help attract conferences, investment forums and industrial development projects into Bungoma County and surrounding regions.
Challenges Facing the Expansion
Despite optimism surrounding the Matulo Airport Expansion, several challenges remain.
Key issues likely to affect implementation include:
- Land acquisition negotiations
- Funding requirements
- Environmental approvals
- Long-term operational sustainability
- Airline traffic demand
Kenya has previously announced ambitious infrastructure projects that later experienced delays due to financing constraints or procurement issues.
Analysts therefore caution that execution and consistent funding will determine whether the airport achieves its long-term ambitions.
The expansion will also require coordinated planning involving county governments, national agencies and aviation stakeholders.
Aviation Growth Beyond Nairobi
The Matulo Airport Expansion reflects a broader trend within Kenya’s transport strategy.
For decades, aviation investment remained heavily concentrated around Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and a handful of regional airports.
However, growing population density, business activity and regional trade integration are increasing demand for secondary aviation hubs.
Western Kenya, in particular, has long argued that inadequate transport infrastructure slowed regional investment potential despite its strategic location near East African trade routes.
The Matulo Airport Expansion could therefore help rebalance national infrastructure development.
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Why the Matulo Airport Expansion Matters
The Matulo Airport Expansion matters because it represents more than an airport project.
It reflects Kenya’s broader effort to modernize regional infrastructure, stimulate economic growth outside Nairobi and strengthen East African trade connectivity.
If successfully completed, the airport could significantly improve mobility and business access across Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega and neighboring counties.
Combined with the planned highway projects, the expansion could reshape transport patterns throughout Western Kenya.
What Happens Next
The next stages of the Matulo Airport Expansion are expected to include:
- Additional land acquisition
- Runway extension works
- Passenger terminal construction
- Regulatory approvals
- Airline route development
Government officials expect the terminal building to be completed by December, while runway expansion plans will continue in phases.
Commercial flight operations are also expected to begin progressively as aviation operators finalize schedules and operational requirements.
Conclusion
The Matulo Airport Expansion is rapidly becoming one of Kenya’s most closely watched regional infrastructure projects.
From its origins as a rehabilitated ceremonial airstrip to its emergence as a planned commercial aviation hub, the project reflects growing government focus on transforming Western Kenya’s connectivity and economic potential.
Backed by President William Ruto and the Kenya Airports Authority, the expansion aims to deliver modern aviation infrastructure capable of supporting trade, tourism and investment growth across the region.
Together with the planned Mau Summit-Malaba highway, the Matulo Airport Expansion could help reshape transport and economic development across Kenya’s western corridor for decades to come.
