By Joel Clinton
The sun rises gently over Lake Victoria, casting a golden shimmer across the runway of Kisumu International Airport. But today, all eyes are fixed on a new landmark, the tall, eight-storey Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower, recently completed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Sleek and equipped with modern technology, it symbolizes Kisumu’s growing role in East Africa’s aviation sector.
Inside the bright control room, screens glow softly as engineers perform final system checks. Modern ICT, new radar, updated surveillance tools, and top-notch communication consoles work together, preparing for full activation. The air inside is thick with anticipation, not only for the official launch but also for what this tower means for the region’s future.
For months, Kisumu has seen an increase in air traffic. There are more domestic flights, rising charter services, and growing interest from regional carriers serving Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. As a Class 3 international airport, Kisumu now needs safer, smarter, and quicker airspace coordination, and this new tower promises just that.
Just outside, a group of young people gathers at the airport gate, looking at the structure with hope. Among them is Brian Odiwuor, a 24-year-old ICT graduate from Manyatta. “When they said the tower will create new opportunities, I knew I had to try,” he says, holding a folder of applications. Like many young people in the area, he dreams of getting a job in communications, systems maintenance, airport logistics, or security, all sectors expected to grow after the launch.
Airport operations manager Lucy Aoko walks across the tarmac, watching a Kenya Airways flight land smoothly. “This tower is not just for the airport,” she says. “It is for the fishermen of Kichinjio who need faster cargo flights, the hoteliers of Rusinga welcoming more tourists, the traders connecting Kisumu to Kigali. And yes, it is for our youth who deserve opportunities.”
As evening light surrounds the tower, it stands like a symbol of new beginnings. The launch will come soon, but already, Kisumu can feel the winds of change gathering, promising safer skies, stronger trade, and jobs that will uplift countless families across the Lake Region.
