The government could be forced to demolish 41 buildings in Nairobi's South C, Nairobi West and Lang'ata estates after an obstruction survey found that the structures have encroached into protected airspace around Wilson Airport.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The issue dominated a Senate Roads Committee sitting on Friday, June 26, after the government disclosed it was exploring changes to flight paths rather than bringing down the buildings.

Lawmakers questioned why the government appeared willing to accommodate developers whose buildings violate aviation safety regulations, while other structures have previously been demolished for similar reasons.

Appearing before the committee, Aviation Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika said demolishing the buildings would be complicated , noting that many have the required approvals.

📌 What You Need to Know

"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 of some of these people?" Mbaika told senators.

She went on to add, "If you go to them, some of them have approvals by various agencies, including the Nairobi County Government."

Her remarks sparked concerns among the lawmakers, who questioned whether aircraft should be forced to change course to accommodate unlawful developments instead of enforcing existing aviation laws.

The debate follows an obstruction survey conducted between October and November 2024, which assessed 134 buildings within a six-kilometre radius of Wilson Airport.

According to the survey, 41 buildings exceeded the maximum permissible height , creating obstacles within the airport's protected airspace and significantly increasing risks during aircraft take-off and landing.

During the committee sitting, it emerged that the affected structures are mostly concentrated in South C, Nairobi West and Lang'ata estates, which are located near Wilson Airport.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke