The future of Wilson Airport is facing serious safety and regulatory challenges even as the Kenya Airports Authority pushes forward with an ambitious plan to upgrade the busy domestic hub amid rising threats from high-rise developments and land encroachment.

The facility, which handles over 120,000 aircraft movements each year, has drawn attention over the deteriorating state of its runways and increasing pressure from uncontrolled private developments that have taken up space meant for safety buffers.

Aviation experts have expressed concern that the airport’s location within Nairobi’s fast-expanding urban landscape is endangering flight operations and compromising compliance with international safety standards.

These concerns took centre stage during a high-level stakeholder meeting held at the airport, where senior officials from KAA, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and the Kenya Association of Air Operators met to deliberate on the planned rehabilitation.

The meeting focused on improving the runways and associated infrastructure, while also addressing safety, regulatory requirements, and growing operational pressures.

According to KAA, an aerial survey of the Nairobi skyline was recently conducted to measure the extent of encroachment and its impact on flight safety around the airport.

“This inspection demonstrates our shared commitment to rehabilitating and modernising Wilson Airport to meet present and future demands. We are focused on delivering infrastructure that matches Kenya’s ambitions as a regional aviation leader,” said KAA Board Chair Caleb Kositany.

Even though it did not outline specific actions to address the developments that have encroached on airport land, KAA maintained that the upgrade would be implemented in collaboration with aviation regulators, county officials, and private players to ensure full compliance with safety rules and support long-term urban planning goals.

The planned works include runway repairs, expansion of airside capacity, and enhancement of aviation safety systems to support growing traffic at the airport.

KAA’s efforts come against a backdrop of financial strain, with a 2024 report showing that Kenya’s state-owned airports need an estimated Sh260 billion in development funding to modernise operations across the country. Of this amount, about Sh130 billion—half of the total—is required for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport alone, to transform it into a regional aviation hub capable of meeting projected demand.

The Aviation Policy for Kenya, which received Cabinet approval in 2024, outlined the government’s intention to explore a range of financing options to address infrastructure gaps in the aviation sector.

It concluded that many of the country’s airports currently lack the facilities to properly support passenger and cargo operations.

“It is considered that current infrastructure is not adequate to handle passenger and cargo operations at most airports. In this manner, it is estimated that KAA’s aerodrome network requires an investment of approximately $2 billion (Sh258 billion) for the mentioned period, including both expansion/compliance as well as major maintenance and replacement investments,” says the policy.

“Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the main driver of the mentioned investment plan, accounting for approximately $1 billion (Sh129 billion) to increase its current capacity and be able to accommodate the forecasted demand.”

The Wilson Airport meeting brought together KAA Board Chair Caleb Kositany, KCAA Board Chair Brown Ondego, KAAO Vice Chair Jimmy Kibati, and top officials from Nairobi City County Government. Also in attendance were KAA Acting Managing Director Mohamud Gedi, KCAA Director General Emile Arao, and KAAO Chief Executive Liz Aluvanze.