More than 40 buildings in Nairobi could face demolition after the government revealed they are obstructing the flight path to Wilson Airport, raising fresh concerns over aviation safety and how the developments were approved.
The issue came up during a sitting of the Senate Roads Committee on Friday, where lawmakers questioned government officials over plans to deal with buildings found to have encroached into protected airspace around the airport.
According to the government, an obstruction survey identified 41 buildings in South C, Nairobi West and Lang’ata that exceed the maximum height allowed near Wilson Airport, posing potential risks to aircraft during take-off and landing.
Appearing before the committee, Aviation Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika said the government is weighing different options, including adjusting flight paths instead of bringing down the affected buildings.
She noted that the situation is not straightforward because a number of the buildings were approved by relevant authorities, including the Nairobi City County Government.
“What is the easier route to deal with the matter? Is it to bring down the buildings which are on the flight path, or is it to come up with a plan that works for us because some of these people have approvals?” Mbaika posed.
Her remarks drew sharp reactions from senators, who questioned whether flight operations should be altered to accommodate buildings that appear to violate aviation safety regulations.
Some lawmakers argued that previous structures found to be obstructing protected airspace had been demolished, and questioned why a different approach was now being considered.
The concerns stem from an obstruction survey conducted between October and November 2024, which inspected 134 buildings within a six-kilometre radius of Wilson Airport.
The assessment found that 41 of the buildings had exceeded the permitted height limits, creating obstacles within the airport’s protected airspace.
These include a building that belongs to the Parliamentary Service Commission. Reports indicate that the building has been erected at 27 meters, although clearance was granted by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority for only 21 meters.
According to Kenyan laws, all persons intending to construct any buildings, telecommunication mast, billboards, and any other tall structures within close proximity of an airport must first seek clearance from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
While the developers are supposed to seek clearance from the county governments too, the aviation authorities insisted that clearance from the counties cannot supersede the aviation safety guidelines.
Discussions seem to have reignited the issue of compliance to the planning guidelines and the coordination efforts between the two entities in clearing projects within such a location.
The government has so far not given information regarding the future demolition of the structures, or any other measure to be taken to ensure safe flying operations at Wilson Airport.
