whiNyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has announced an airline’s plans to launch direct flights between Nairobi and Nyeri counties.
The aim is to boost tourism and trade, and save passengers travel time.
SUSTAINED FLOW
Mr Kahiga said on Wednesday that an airline, which he did not name, had expressed interest to fly passengers from Wilson Airport to Nyaribo airstrip, which is located about 10 kilometers from Nyeri town.
“Nyeri is exploring the possibilities of direct flights to Nairobi. If all plans shape up, the flights will be from Nyeri Airbase, commonly known as Nyaribo airstrip, to Wilson Airport in Nairobi,” read a statement on his official Facebook Page.
The county boss said there are also solid plans to explore ways to ensure a sustained flow to Nairobi.
The governor will on Friday host Information, Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, who will lead a delegation from the aviation sector in discussing the possibility of introducing the flights.
TOURISM
Direct flights to Nairobi will be a major boost for the tourism sector in Nyeri. Tourists visiting the Aberdare and Mt Kenya national parks could also fly into the area, which is only half an hour’s drive from hotels such as The Ark and Outspan.
The airstrip is rarely busy and is mainly used by students enrolled in the aviation school and by politicians on occasion.
During President Uhuru Kenyatta’s trips to the region, military planes land at the airstrip.
Most people, however, use Nanyuki strip, which can only handle small planes.
This comes about two weeks after streets lights were installed along Kabiru-ini- Nyaribo-Brookside road, which has since been tarmacked.
The tarmacking of the road to Kabiruini-Chaka, through Nyaribo, following a launch by former President Mwai Kibaki, has also been completed and will ease transport to and from the airstrip.