President Ruto’s expected visit to Bomet

Bomet County is preparing for increased national attention as President William Ruto is expected to undertake a development tour of the region. Reports circulating ahead of the visit indicate that the President is expected to inspect or launch several development projects, with Itembe Airstrip among the major infrastructure projects attracting attention.

A social-media announcement about the planned tour indicates that Ruto is expected in Bomet and Kericho between September 9 and 12, 2026, with Itembe Airstrip and the Bosto Water Project among the projects mentioned in connection with the visit. However, this specific itinerary should be treated as a reported programme rather than a fully independently confirmed presidential schedule until an official State House or government itinerary is issued. 

The anticipated visit comes at an important stage for Itembe Airstrip. The facility is currently being rehabilitated after remaining largely inactive for decades. Its revival has become one of the most visible infrastructure projects in Bomet and is being presented by government officials as part of efforts to improve transport, healthcare access and economic activity.

The history of Itembe Airstrip

Itembe Airstrip is located in Nyangores Ward in Chepalungu Sub-County, Bomet County. The facility has a long history, having originally been cleared as a simple murram runway during the colonial period. It was later upgraded and tarmacked in 1990.

Despite the earlier investment, the facility eventually fell into disuse. For more than three decades, it was not functioning as a reliable aviation facility and parts of the land were reportedly used as a driving-school training ground and grazing area.

The prolonged inactivity meant that the airstrip became an example of infrastructure that had existed but was unable to deliver its intended economic and social benefits. The current rehabilitation therefore represents an attempt to restore an important transport facility rather than simply construct an entirely new airfield. 

Earlier efforts to revive the facility were discussed during previous administrations. In 2017, the Bomet County Government reported plans by the Kenya Airports Authority, working with national and county governments, to upgrade and expand the airstrip. At the time, proposals included increasing the runway length and width and upgrading it to bitumen standards.

The latest programme is therefore significant because it moves the long-standing proposal from planning toward physical implementation.

Current Itembe Airstrip rehabilitation

The current rehabilitation is being undertaken by the Kenya Airports Authority. According to the Bomet County Government, Phase One involves upgrading the runway to a 1,000-metre by 18-metre asphalt-concrete surface.

The works also include construction of taxiways and an aircraft apron, installation of a windsock, drainage improvements and construction of a perimeter fence. Land acquisition is also part of the programme to ensure the runway strip complies with aviation requirements. KAA indicated that Phase One was expected to take about 15 months. 

The project is valued at approximately KSh214 million, according to government and media reports. Its importance goes beyond the runway itself because an operational airstrip requires supporting infrastructure that allows aircraft to land and take off safely.

The planned drainage system, fencing, taxiways, apron and windsock are therefore important components of the rehabilitation.

Recent photographs and updates show that construction is progressing, with earthworks, subgrade preparation and compaction being undertaken ahead of asphalt surfacing. Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo reported on September 2, 2026, that the facility was undergoing a major overhaul, with structural completion targeted for the end of the year. 

Ruto’s December completion promise

The Itembe project gained additional political significance in April 2026 when President Ruto spoke about the airstrip during a visit to Bomet County.

During the burial of Edwin Kipchirchir Koech, father of former Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, in Kipketii, Ruto stated that the government expected the airstrip to be completed in December 2026 and become operational before the beginning of 2027.

The President linked the project to requests from Bomet residents for improved air connectivity. His remarks indicated that the government considered the airstrip an important part of the wider development programme in the county. 

The December deadline is now particularly important because a presidential visit in September would provide an opportunity to inspect the physical progress of construction several months before the targeted completion date.

Residents and local leaders will consequently be interested not only in the launch or inspection of the project but also in whether construction remains on schedule.

Why Itembe Airstrip matters to Bomet

One of the biggest expected benefits is improved regional connectivity.

Bomet is an agriculturally important county, with tea, horticulture and other agricultural activities contributing significantly to the local economy. Faster access to other parts of Kenya can help businesses, investors, government officials and tourists move more efficiently.

An operational airstrip could also make it easier to transport high-value or time-sensitive goods where air transport is commercially viable.

KAA has specifically identified agriculture, tourism and manufacturing among the sectors that could benefit from the upgraded facility. 

The airstrip could also strengthen Bomet's position within the wider South Rift economy by improving connections between the county and other commercial centres.

Medical evacuation and Tenwek Hospital

Perhaps the most important social benefit is healthcare.

Bomet is home to AGC Tenwek Hospital and the Tenwek Cardiothoracic Centre, major healthcare facilities that serve patients from Bomet and beyond.

KAA and the Bomet County Government have specifically identified medical evacuation as one of the major uses of the rehabilitated airstrip. 

Medical emergencies can involve critically ill patients who need to be transferred rapidly to specialised facilities. A functioning airstrip near major healthcare facilities can potentially shorten travel times for air ambulance operations.

This makes Itembe more than an ordinary transport project. Its impact could extend directly into emergency medical services.

Tourism opportunities

Tourism is another sector expected to benefit.

Bomet County and the wider South Rift region have significant agricultural landscapes, cultural attractions and natural resources. Better air access could make the region more attractive to visitors who prefer faster transportation.

Tourism operators could potentially benefit from easier connections for domestic and international visitors, particularly when combined with improved road infrastructure.

The airstrip could therefore become part of a wider transport network linking Bomet with other tourism destinations in the Rift Valley.

Agriculture and manufacturing

The agricultural sector could also gain from better transport infrastructure.

Bomet's economy is heavily associated with agriculture, particularly tea and horticulture. Improved connectivity can help businesses access markets, suppliers, technical experts and investors.

For manufacturing, reliable transport infrastructure is an important factor when companies consider where to establish or expand operations.

The KAA has said the upgraded facility is intended to unlock opportunities in agriculture and manufacturing in Bomet and the wider South Rift. 

However, the actual economic impact will depend on how frequently the airstrip is used, the availability of scheduled or chartered flights, cargo demand and the development of complementary infrastructure around the facility.

The wider Bomet development agenda

The Itembe project is not standing alone. Bomet has several other major infrastructure projects being undertaken by the national government.

In March 2026, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki visited Bomet to inspect development projects. Among the projects he visited was the Kyogong–Kapkesosio–Sigor–Chebunyo/Sigor–Lelaitich–Kipreres–Longisa road, a 65-kilometre road project reported to have a cost of KSh2.1 billion. 

The government has also reported wider road construction programmes in the county, with more than 500 kilometres of roads targeted for upgrading to bitumen standards under the Kenya Kwanza administration. 

Another major project is the Bomet Affordable Housing Programme in Chepalungu, reported by the Government Delivery Unit as a KSh547 million project involving 220 affordable and social housing units. The same government update listed Itembe Airstrip as a KSh214.3 million project. 

These projects provide context for the anticipated presidential visit. Rather than focusing exclusively on aviation, the tour could highlight a broader development agenda involving roads, housing, water, markets and other public infrastructure.

Bosto Water Project and other expected projects

Reports concerning the planned presidential tour have also mentioned the Bosto Water Project alongside Itembe Airstrip. 

Water infrastructure is particularly important for communities because it affects households, agriculture, livestock and businesses.

If the President proceeds with the reported development tour, residents will likely be looking for updates on the progress, financing and completion timelines of several projects rather than simply ceremonial launches.

The visit could therefore become an opportunity for national and county authorities to provide progress reports and address concerns over stalled or delayed projects.

What residents are likely to expect

For many Bomet residents, the central question will be whether promised projects are completed on schedule.

Itembe Airstrip has already had a long history of inactivity. Consequently, residents may be particularly interested in seeing tangible progress rather than announcements alone.

The President's April commitment that the airstrip would be ready by December 2026 has created a clear deadline against which progress can be measured. 

Residents are also likely to expect clarification on the second phase of the airstrip project.

KAA has indicated that Phase Two would eventually provide for a 1,200-metre by 23-metre runway, terminal and service facilities, additional land acquisition and other safety-related infrastructure. 

This means that completion of Phase One will not necessarily represent the final form of Itembe Airstrip.

A potentially transformative project

If successfully completed and effectively operated, Itembe Airstrip could become one of the most important transport facilities in Bomet County.

Its benefits could extend beyond aviation. An operational airstrip could encourage investment, improve emergency medical access, facilitate business travel and contribute to tourism and agricultural development.

But infrastructure alone does not guarantee economic transformation. The county and national government will need to ensure that the facility is properly maintained and supported by adequate roads, security, aviation services and commercial activity.

The planned development of surrounding infrastructure will therefore be important.

Conclusion

President William Ruto's expected development tour of Bomet comes at a significant moment for Itembe Airstrip. The facility, which had remained largely dormant for more than three decades after being tarmacked in 1990, is now undergoing a KSh214 million rehabilitation programme led by the Kenya Airports Authority. Phase One includes a 1,000-metre by 18-metre asphalt-concrete runway, taxiways, an apron, drainage, fencing and other aviation infrastructure. 

Ruto has already announced that the airstrip is expected to be completed in December 2026, making the coming months critical for the project. 

The reported September development tour would therefore place Itembe Airstrip firmly at the centre of attention in Bomet. Alongside projects such as roads, water infrastructure and affordable housing, the airstrip represents the government's broader attempt to improve connectivity and stimulate economic development in the county.

For Bomet residents, the ultimate measure of success will not simply be the President's visit or the launch of a project. It will be whether Itembe Airstrip becomes fully operational, whether aircraft can use it safely, whether medical evacuations become easier, and whether the promised economic benefits reach farmers, businesses, healthcare institutions and communities across Bomet and the wider South Rift.