Plans by the government to acquire 1,500 hectares of communal land in Turkana County for an international airport and a Kenya Air Force base have drawn fierce opposition from residents, who say the move threatens their ancestral grazing land and way of life.
Tension flared in Kangatotha Ward as elders broke into protest songs during a public meeting convened to discuss the proposed projects.
Seated on traditional stools or pacing slowly while raising their sticks, they repeatedly interrupted proceedings with songs of disapproval, turning the meeting tense as officials from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Lands and the National Land Commission listened with their message was clear that the land must remain for pastoralism.
The Ministry of Defence, in a letter dated September 15, 2025, requested the land for the project, with a joint public participation exercise scheduled between April 7 and 15, as communicated to the Turkana County Secretary by Defence Principal Secretary Dr Patrick Mariru.
The proposed project involves the construction of Turkana International Airport, to be co-located with a Kenya Air Force Forward Operating Base.
But for residents, the contested land is not just territory but a lifeline. They said converting it into an airport would undermine a way of life that has supported generations.
“This land is our foundation. It supports all the livestock we inherited from our forefathers. If we lose the land, we lose the livestock,” said one resident.
The vast stretch of unregistered communal land is dotted with drought-resistant vegetation, including five-metre-tall Ebei trees (Balanites rotundifolia ) and acacia species, which sustain livestock in the arid region.
For over four decades, Mr Eregae Ewoi, a pastoralist from Naoros village along the shores of Lake Turkana, has depended entirely on such land for survival.
His camels are descendants of those handed down by his forefathers, symbolising a deep cultural and economic connection to his lineage.
“In Turkana culture, inheriting livestock is seen as an inheritance of legacy, blessing and economic stability. The land now requested for construction of an international airport is where I have relied on to herd my flock,” Mr Ewoi told the Daily Nation on Wednesday.
Residents warned that converting the land to other uses would disrupt a system that has supported generations.
They also cited the impact of aviation activities on animals, noting that even small aircraft using Eliye Airstrip have long disturbed their herds. They questioned how animals would cope with a much larger facility, expected to span six kilometres in length and 2.5 kilometres in width, once operational.
“We have carefully safeguarded our land and livestock inherited from our forefathers. They have multiplied like money earning interest in a bank. Whenever we need school fees or hospital bills, we sell some animals. Taking away such a large portion of land will jeopardise our lives,” Mr Ewoi said.
Mr Philip Lobuin, a local professional, said younger residents were backing elders in opposing the project.
“We support our parents, who fear going against the wishes of their forefathers to protect the land for generations to come,” he said, warning that displacement would make pastoralism untenable.
He added that earlier reports had suggested Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai had conspired to hand over the land to the Kenya Defence Forces, but the inception meeting clarified that the acquisition is being pursued by a multi-agency national government team.
The team comprises officers from the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Land Commission and other stakeholders tasked with collecting public views on the proposed project.
Governor Lomorukai, who hosted the delegation for a courtesy call at the county headquarters in Lodwar, said that land in Turkana is community-owned and cannot be allocated without residents’ consent.
He acknowledged growing concern that the land earmarked for the project may have been identified without adequate consultation, cautioning that land issues are highly emotive and prone to politicisation.
“Strong disapproval from the community during public participation at Kangatotha should be an eye-opener. The choice of land proposed for the project may have been miscalculated. I urge the national government team to listen to community concerns and consider alternative locations,” he said.
However, the head of the delegation, Brigadier (Rtd) Faustine Sirera, defended the project as part of a broader national development agenda driven by the President to unlock Turkana’s potential.
He said the Defence Strategic Plan had identified Turkana as a key location for infrastructure that serves both security and development purposes.
Mr Sirera noted that the proposed facility would go beyond a military installation to include critical infrastructure such as an airstrip capable of supporting defence operations, including aircraft refuelling, while also contributing to regional development.
He outlined potential benefits to the community, including access to international livestock markets, job opportunities during and after construction, and growth in related sectors such as accommodation, hotels and rental housing.
“There will be many business opportunities for locals as the airport will also boost tourism in the Lake Turkana Basin, where many fossils have been discovered, including the Turkana Boy at Nariokotome village,” he said.
“The area will be opened up with improved roads, and the community will have strategic dams for sustainable water supply for both domestic and livestock use. Those of us who are elderly should not be at the forefront of resisting the project that will be beneficial for future generations.”
He clarified that the KDF was not seeking additional land but would operate within the airport once constructed, similar to arrangements at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
“KDF does not want land in Kangatotha. The land is meant for an international airport to be used by both civilians and the military. KDF will operate from within, just like in the case of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. KDF is only supporting government efforts to acquire land for construction of an airport,” he said.
Officials from the Ministry of Lands urged residents to prioritise the registration of their land to enable structured engagement with the government and investors.
Mr Isaac Sabuni, the Community Land Registrar in Turkana, said Kangatotha has already been recognised as a community with unregistered land.
“This is the time for the community to focus on registering the land, just like some villages in the South Lokichar Basin that have title deeds for land used in petroleum activities,” he said.
“What you can request is for the government to hasten the registration of the land,” he added.
Mr Sabuni pledged to work closely with the county government to ensure Kangatotha residents register their land.
Another official from the State Department for Lands, Mr Andrew Khaemba, said the government would follow due constitutional processes, ensuring the community is fully informed about land matters and benefits tied to natural resources.
