Kisumu International Airport Cargo and Cold Storage Expansion

Direct agricultural exports, cold chain infrastructure, job creation, agro-processor attraction, farmer income improvement, reduced post-harvest losses

The Kenyan government has finalized designs and feasibility for a major expansion of Kisumu International Airport focused on cargo handling and cold storage facilities. Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo announced that the expansion is designed to enable direct export of perishable goods including fresh fish, African leafy vegetables, and other high-demand farm produce from the Lake Region to international markets. The cold storage facility will preserve quality and increase shelf life of fresh exports, giving western Kenya farmers a competitive edge in global markets. The project aligns with the government's construction of fish landing sites along Lake Victoria with storage facilities. The expansion is expected to attract agro-processors, logistics companies, and exporters to Kisumu, creating thousands of jobs.

Positions Kisumu as an agricultural export hub, enabling western Kenya farmers to access international markets directly without routing through Nairobi. Combined with fish landing site construction, this creates a complete export value chain.