KCAA: Illegal encroachment forces flight path changes at Wilson Airport

Illegal high-rise buildings are increasingly threatening flight safety at Wilson Airport, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has said.

KCAA Director General Emile Arao said that uncontrolled urban development is now forcing changes in aircraft operations.

Appearing before a parliamentary committee, Arao revealed that more than 40 buildings around the airport have exceeded approved height limits, raising concerns over safety and regulatory enforcement.

“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 acknowledged that while some developments were approved within limits, several contractors have violated height restrictions, complicating flight operations in and out of the busy aerodrome.

Arao noted that pilots are already adjusting their flight patterns due to the encroachment, particularly in areas with dense construction.

“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.

The Director General said that buildings near the airport have directly affected how Wilson is used.

He said that plans to expand one of the runways have been thrown into uncertainty due to contested land ownership.

“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.

Lawmakers expressed concern over what they termed as weak enforcement of aviation regulations, questioning how developers were allowed to exceed approved limits.

The committee also demanded a detailed list of the non-compliant structures, including plot numbers and ownership details, as part of efforts to enforce compliance.

While KCAA maintained that crosswinds remain manageable and pilots are trained to handle varying conditions, it acknowledged that infrastructure developments can interfere with natural wind flow.

The regulator said it is working with other government agencies to assess long-term solutions, including the possibility of relocating the airport or implementing stricter controls on surrounding developments.

“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.

This comes days after a flight operated on behalf of Safarilink Aviation was involved in a runway excursion while landing at Wilson Airport on March 20, 2026, the airline has confirmed.

In a statement, Safarilink said Flight 090, travelling from Kisumu to Nairobi, encountered the incident at about 20:55 hours after touchdown.

The airline stated that the aircraft was operated by ALS Limited on its behalf. The company reported that all 34 passengers and five crew members on board were safe.