NAIROBI, Kenya – Authorities are working round the clock to unravel the mystery surrounding a fire incident at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
According to the National Police Service (NPS), the fire incident affected the grassland around JKIA.
“The fire started at around 6:30 pm along the perimeter fence of the North Airport Road,” reads a statement signed by Muchiri Nyaga on behalf of Inspector General NPS.
Muchiri said that NPS, in collaboration with other agencies, had launched investigations to determine the cause of the fire.
We need a comprehensive investigative report on what caused the fire at JKIA today. JKIA haijawachomeka before, & this just doesn’t add up at all.
How KAA reacted to the JKIA’s fire incident
“As a service, we remain committed to serving and protecting,” the statement further reads.
The NPS’s statement came even as the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed that it had successfully contained the fire incident.
“A coordinated response team, comprising the KAA Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), NPS, Nairobi County Fire Unit, KK Security, and G4S, worked diligently to bring the fire under control, leading to successful containment,” KAA Corporate Communications said in a statement.
📢UPDATE STATEMENT: Grassland fire at JKIA successfully contained, airport operations unaffected.
According to KAA, the fire was confined to non-operational grassland areas and did not impact any critical infrastructure zones of JKIA.
“All airport activities, including flight schedules, passenger processing, and cargo handling, remain fully operational and unaffected throughout the incident,” reads the statement shared on KAA’s official X account.
The state agency further went on to thank all the teams involved in the response for their “dedication and swift action, which ensured the safety of our passengers and facilities while minimising disruption.”
Why the fire incident dealt a blow to JKIA
The fire incident came hours after JKIA was honoured as the African Cargo Airport of the Year during the STAT Times International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo.
The gala dinner was held on the night of Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi.
The award ceremony was part of the Air Cargo Africa and Transport Logistics Africa 2025 conference, a premier event showcasing innovations and excellence in the air cargo industry.
PRESS STATEMENT : FIRE INCIDENT AT JKIA
Dr. Rose Koros, General Manager of JKIA; Jacob Bwana, Manager of Cargo; and Debra Ondaba, Manager of Product and Brand, received the award.
In April 2019, a fire at JKIA disrupted operations briefly at Terminal 1C before services were moved elsewhere.
The night fire incident was said to have been caused by a conveyor belt at the baggage hall in Terminal 1C, but police said it was quickly put out.
The terminal was temporarily closed, and flight operations moved to Terminal 1B.
