As President William Ruto prepares to launch the construction of a proposed international airport near the world-renowned Maasai Mara, a section of Narok leaders is urging the government to ensure that the landmark project benefits local communities not just private interests.
Speaking during a meeting in Siana Ward, Narok West Constituency, several leaders expressed concern over the reported location of the airport, which is allegedly tied to private land associated with former President Uhuru Kenyatta. They are now calling for the project to be relocated to public land within the county to better serve the people of Narok.
“We are saying, as Narok leaders, we will not allow an international airport to be built on land belonging to an individual. We want it to be built here in Narok so that our youth can get jobs,” said Emurua Dikir MP Johana Ng’eno, emphasizing the potential employment opportunities the project could bring if it directly involves the local population.
The airport, scheduled for launch at the end of the month during President Ruto’s development tour of the region, has become a lightning rod for debate not over the need for the project, but over where and how it should be implemented.
Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu called for unity and urged leaders to shift their focus toward maximizing development gains during the President’s visit. “We want, when the President visits, for leaders to put politics aside and allow the President to bring development. The time for politics will come,” he said. “We have said President Ruto is ten years without a break because we can see the work he is doing here in Narok.”
While calls to relocate the airport dominate local headlines, the broader sentiment among leaders appears to favor development provided it is inclusive, transparent, and rooted in public interest.
