The Kenya
Airports Authority (KAA) is pushing ahead with plans for a major upgrade of
Wilson Airport, one of East Africa’s busiest domestic air transport hubs, even as concerns rise over unchecked high-rise buildings and land encroachment.
The airport, which is mainly used for
domestic flights, has lately come under scrutiny over the quality of its
runway and mushrooming private developments on its land.
During a
high-level stakeholder engagement held at the airport, senior officials from
KAA, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), and the Kenya Association of
Air Operators (KAAO) discussed the proposed rehabilitation of both runways and
associated infrastructure, amid concerns over safety, capacity, and regulatory
compliance.
The discussions
come as high-rise buildings and other developments continue to encroach on the
airport's safety buffer zones—contrary to aviation laws and international
safety standards.
According to KAA
an aerial inspection of Nairobi’s skyline has been conducted to assess the
extent of encroachment and its impact on airspace safety.
“This inspection demonstrates our shared
commitment to rehabilitating and modernising Wilson Airport to meet present and
future demands. We are focused on delivering infrastructure that matches
Kenya’s ambitions as a regional aviation leader,” said KAA
Board Chair Caleb Kositany.
Wilson Airport
handles over 120,000 aircraft movements annually and is a key node in Kenya’s
domestic and regional aviation network.
However, its
location within a rapidly urbanising part of Nairobi has in the recent past
been a concern among aviation experts over increasing risks to flight
operations.
Without
disclosing the fate of the properties that have encroached on the land, KAA
said the rehabilitation project will proceed in close coordination with
aviation regulators, local authorities, and private operators to ensure
compliance with safety standards and sustainable urban development practices.
The scope of the
upgrade includes runway rehabilitation, expansion of airside operations, and
improved safety infrastructure.
A 2024 report showed
that state-owned airports are facing a Sh260 billion shortfall in development
funding to bring their operations up to date.
Half of the
amount ($1 billion; Sh130 billion) is projected to be what the
country's main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) requires to
become a competitive hub in the region.
In the Aviation
Policy for Kenya, a document that received Cabinet approval in 2024, the
government said it would explore different financing and funding options to
accelerate airport expansion.
"It is
considered that current infrastructure is not adequate to handle passenger and
cargo operations at most airports. In this manner, it is estimated that KAA's
aerodrome network requires an investment of approximately $2 (Sh258 billion)
for the mentioned period, including both expansion/compliance as well as major
maintenance and replacement investments," says the aviation policy.
"Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport is the main driver of the mentioned investment
plan, accounting for approximately $1 billion (Sh129 billion) to increase its
current capacity and be able to accommodate the forecasted demand."
The meeting
brought together KAA Board Chair Caleb Kositany, KCAA Board Chair Brown Ondego,
KAAO Vice Chair Jimmy Kibati, and senior officials from the Nairobi City County
Government.
Also present
were KAA Acting Managing Director Mohamud Gedi, KCAA Director General Emile
Arao, and KAAO CEO Liz Aluvanze.
