Flights resume at Kabunde Airstrip after major runway upgrade

Flights have resumed at Kabunde Airstrip in Homa Bay County following the completion of major renovations, including the extension of its runway to 1.3 kilometers. Patrick Oketch, the airline’s sales and marketing officer, said Renegade Air will now operate a Dash 8 100 aircraft with a 37-passenger capacity on the Kabunde–Wilson route three times a week—Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. Flights will depart Wilson Airport at 1:00 p.m. and land at Kabunde at 2:15 p.m., with return flights leaving Kabunde at 2:45 p.m. and arriving in Nairobi at 3:30 p.m. Oketch added that the airline plans to introduce an additional Thursday flight soon. The Kenya Airports Authority extended the runway from 1.1 to 1.3 kilometers to enhance safety and increase aircraft handling capacity. Plans are also underway to construct a new terminal capable of handling up to 250,000 passengers annually, alongside a new apron and taxiway. The upgraded airstrip is expected to boost tourism in the region, particularly due to its proximity to Ruma National Park, one of the key wildlife attractions in the Lake Victoria basin.