Buildings around Wilson Airport blamed for disrupting flight operations

Uncontrolled developments around Wilson Airport are increasingly being blamed for interfering with safe aircraft movement, with aviation regulators warning that nearby structures are altering how flights are conducted at the busy facility.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has raised concern that buildings erected within the airport’s vicinity are not fully compliant with set height restrictions, a situation that has begun affecting both take-offs and landings.

KCAA Director General Emile Arao told the Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation, and Housing on Thursday that a review carried out by the authority identified a large number of structures that do not meet the required standards.

“Our audit has shown that there are some buildings that have been constructed that go beyond the approved height, and there are quite a number,” he said.

He explained that while some construction projects followed the approved guidelines, others went beyond the permitted limits, creating operational challenges for pilots using the airport.

According to Arao, the situation has already influenced how pilots navigate departures, especially in areas where construction is dense.

“Many people like taking off on Runway 14 because of the construction in South C. There’s a lot of construction there, so many pilots and operators prefer to take off on Runway 14, which now you get airborne and you’re over the park,” he explained.

He added that the presence of tall buildings around the airport has had a direct effect on day-to-day operations, with flight patterns being adjusted to avoid built-up zones.

Arao also informed lawmakers that plans to improve the airport’s infrastructure have faced setbacks due to a dispute over land at the end of one of the runways.

“As part of the project that they’re currently undertaking, they wanted to extend Runway 14/32. But unfortunately, somebody wrote to them not too long ago saying that the land at the end of Runway 14 belongs to them,” Arao told the committee.

Members of the committee expressed concern over gaps in enforcement, questioning how developments were allowed to surpass approved height limits without intervention.

They called for KCAA to provide a detailed register of all non-compliant buildings, including plot numbers and ownership information, to support follow-up action.

While the authority maintained that pilots are equipped to handle varying wind conditions and that operations remain within acceptable limits, it acknowledged that nearby structures can interfere with airflow patterns around the airport.

KCAA indicated that it is engaging other government institutions to explore possible long-term interventions, including stricter controls on surrounding developments or reconsidering the airport’s location.

“We are also working with other agencies within the government to look at the merits and demerits of Wilson, whether it’s now time to look at relocating elsewhere, or what can be done to mitigate the challenges,” Arao said.

The concerns come shortly after an incident involving a Safarilink Aviation flight at Wilson Airport.

In a statement, the airline said Flight 090, which was operating from Kisumu to Nairobi, experienced a runway excursion on March 20, 2026 at about 20:55 hours after landing.

The aircraft, operated by ALS Limited on behalf of Safarilink, had 34 passengers and five crew members on board, all of whom were reported safe.