Eldoret International Airport has long been exploited as a gateway for smuggled goods, but is now facing a fierce government crackdown. Enhanced security surveillance is being introduced to seal the border, boost revenue and transform the airport into a secure, high-capacity cargo hub.
To stop the airport being used for smuggling, the government is introducing advanced cargo scanners and forming a multi-agency committee involving the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBs) and the Border Control Committee.
In order to prevent the airport from being used as a route for contraband goods and to improve revenue generation at the facility, the government has introduced stringent measures.
Key among these is the installation of advanced cargo scanners to inspect imported goods, complemented by a strict regulatory system to eliminate security lapses at the country's third international airport.
To strengthen oversight, a multi-agency committee comprising the KRA, KEBS and the Border Control Committee has been established to target counterfeit products in a collaborative effort.
In a recent enforcement operation, the KRA impounded smuggled goods worth over Sh16 million in a tax evasion crackdown.
The seized items included shoes, clothes, auto spares, household goods, and electronic equipment.
“We are working closely with other government agencies and shipping agents to enforce regulations that block smuggled goods from entering through the airport,” Mr Kiong’a explained.
Despite handling up to 12,000 metric tons of cargo imports annually, ranging from electronics and garments to motor vehicle spare parts, the airport remains underutilised, primarily due to inadequate facilities.
Currently, three cargo airlines — Astral Aviation, Fly Emirates, and Ethiopian Airlines — operate flights into Eldoret, bringing in imported goods, but they often return empty due to limited export cargo.
To address this issue, the government plans to extend the airport’s runway and acquire additional land to revamp the facility and accommodate more passenger and cargo flights. The extension will increase the runway's length from 3.5 kilometres to 4.1 kilometres, enabling it to handle larger cargo planes and meet international aviation standards.
Additionally, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has doubled the airport’s cold storage capacity from 150 to 300 metric tons. This expansion is intended to give horticultural traders from the western region better access to lucrative European markets.
“Some shipping agents have pooled resources to operate one large cargo plane as a strategy to reduce costs,” said Mr Kiong’a.
The growing importance of the airport is reflected in the soaring cost of property nearby. Entrepreneurs are racing to secure land close to the facility, with prices for an acre rising from Sh1.8 million two years ago to about Sh3.5 million today.
“The price of land around the airport is expected to rise further as more investors seek to acquire property for future use,” noted Mr Hancox Tum, a local real estate agent.
Mr Jackson Too is a property owner near the airport. “The airport is creating a multiplier effect by generating casual employment and increasing demand for land and residential housing,” he said.
Eldoret’s emergence as a regional aviation hub is also spurring educational growth. Several institutions offering aviation-related courses have opened in the town, signalling the airport’s positive impact on the industrial and economic development of the North Rift region.
However, the airport’s history as a favoured point of entry for smuggled goods under a wider tax evasion scheme remains a challenge that the government is determined to overcome.
