Fresh questions have emerged over a government proposal to alter Wilson Airport's flight path towards Nairobi National Park instead of demolishing dozens of buildings that have violated aviation safety regulations around the country's busiest domestic airport.
The proposal, revealed by Aviation Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika during a sitting of the Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, ran into stiff opposition from senators, who insisted that the law should be enforced by bringing down the illegal developments rather than changing flight operations to accommodate them.
"We have had this discussion for a long time, and there is a Cabinet memo on the same. We must make a decision as a sector," Ms Mbaika told the committee chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute.
"Before a decision is made, there are many proposals on what we can do. This is an extensive development. We have a master plan in place for both Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Wilson. One of the options is whether, for Wilson, we need to adjust the flight path towards Nairobi National Park. We are talking about developments that have taken place over the years."
Will more than 40 buildings be demolished to protect Wilson Airport's flight paths?
The proposal comes more than a year after aviation regulators flagged a surge in high-rise developments around Wilson Airport, warning that unchecked construction in South C, Nairobi West and along the Lang'ata Road corridor had penetrated protected airspace reserved for aircraft approaching and departing the airport.
Wilson Airport is East Africa's busiest domestic airport and serves as the main hub for scheduled domestic flights, air ambulance services, pilot training and tourism operations into national parks and neighbouring countries.
Senators questioned why the government was considering redesigning an aviation corridor instead of enforcing planning and aviation laws against developers whose buildings have encroached on protected airspace.
Documents tabled before the committee show that a 2024 survey identified 41 buildings within a six-kilometre radius of Wilson Airport that either exceed the Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) or lack mandatory Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) obstruction clearance.
An aerial view of a section of Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The report identifies South C, Nairobi West and the Lang'ata Road corridor as the most affected areas, warning that the developments have increased climb and descent gradients and reduced aircraft manoeuvrability during take-off and landing.
The list includes 40 buildings that exceed the approved height limits, among them properties owned by the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Local Authorities Provident Fund, Nairobi East (South C) Hospital Limited, Nairobi West Hospital Limited, Equity Holding Limited, Shree Ambaji Temple (South C) and dozens of private apartment blocks and commercial developments. The Parliamentary Service Commission building exceeds the approved height by six metres, while the Local Authorities Provident Fund building also rises six metres above the permitted limit.
The report further reveals that some private developments exceed the approved heights by more than 20 metres, highlighting what senators described as years of unchecked approvals by Nairobi County.
The committee also learnt that another dispute has emerged involving land bordering the airport and Nairobi National Park. In submissions to the Senate, Ms Mbaika disclosed that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) informed the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) in July 2025 that its board had approved the lease of a parcel of land along the Southern Bypass to a private investor after it had been hived off during construction of the road.
Kenya Airports Authority Managing Director Moses Wekesa (left) and Principal Secretary State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development Teresia Mbaika during a meeting with members of the Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Infrastructure on June 26, 2026 in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
KAA objected, saying the land forms part of the Runway End Safety Area (RESA) and falls within the airport's flight path, warning that it should not be developed. The authority told senators it is yet to receive a formal response from KWS.
Nominated Senator Peris Tobiko dismissed the proposal to alter the flight path, saying it would reward developers who had ignored aviation regulations.
"We are talking about 20-plus floors, and Kenyans still continue to build. Changing the flight path will not do anything. For once, we need to do the right thing and bring down all these buildings. Do we need to look away under the guise that people have invested millions of shillings in these buildings?" Ms Tobiko said.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua questioned whether the government was seeking to protect developers instead of enforcing the law.
"The law is the law, and we are all called upon to be patriotic. Do we need to change the flight path to protect the developers? If you have encroached on the airspace, then you must pave the way. We need to walk the talk. We have demolished buildings built on riparian land. We must do the right thing here as well."
Appearing before the committee, KCAA Acting Director General Nicholas Bodo acknowledged that Nairobi County had approved many of the developments without consulting the aviation regulator.
"We are now looking to engage the county in a different way. The county government overlooked us and approved the developments. They did not consult us, and we do not want to rubber-stamp things. It is a big question how the buildings were approved despite the regulations. Somehow, the county government chose to look the other way. But we have an enforcement mandate, and we will see how this will be done," Mr Bodo said.
Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Infrastructure Member and Marsabit County Senator Chute Mohamed Said during a meeting with officials from the Kenya Airports Authority and Transport Ministry officials on June 26, 2026 in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
The dispute exposed long-standing failures in coordination between Nairobi County and aviation authorities. Under aviation regulations, developments located within protected flight paths require KCAA clearance before construction can proceed. Senators questioned how dozens of buildings received county approvals despite existing height restrictions, with KCAA insisting that many approvals were issued without the regulator's involvement.
Nominated Senator Crystal Asige said Nairobi County should be held accountable for approving developments that have now become an aviation safety concern.
"We need to have an engagement with the county government to resolve this and see what needs to be done. The county government is at the centre of all these approvals, and it needs to be held accountable," she said.
Senator Wambua maintained that the committee was inclined to recommend the demolition of all buildings found to have violated aviation safety standards, regardless of who owns them.
"We will not exonerate anyone, and we will make a finding as a Senate committee that all those who have violated the building standards should have their buildings brought down. Everybody must carry their own cross. There is a perception that Parliament has gone to bed with the Executive, but we must be bold as senators," he said.
The debate comes as the government pursues an ambitious expansion and modernisation of Wilson Airport.
The Ministry of Roads and Transport is rehabilitating the airport's runways, preparing plans for a new passenger terminal and upgrading air traffic management systems, while simultaneously grappling with encroachment that aviation experts warn could undermine safety if left unresolved.
