NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has defended the approval of a petrol station under construction near the flight path of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), saying the project complied with aviation safety regulations.
In a statement issued Monday, the aviation regulator said the development, located along Mombasa Road near the airport, had undergone the required technical evaluation before receiving approval.
“Attention has been drawn via social media to an ongoing construction of a petrol station at JKIA’s flight path. The development referenced near JKIA along Mombasa Road has undergone the required review and analysis and has been granted approval as required by the regulations,” KCAA said.
The authority emphasised that all developments within or near an airport’s operational environment must undergo strict regulatory scrutiny to ensure they do not compromise aviation safety.
“It should be noted that all project and development proposals at or in the vicinity of the aerodrome are subjected to due process and established aviation safety protocols by KCAA,” the agency added.
Safety checks for airport developments
Aviation authorities routinely evaluate projects near airports to determine whether they pose potential risks to aircraft operations, including obstruction of flight paths, safety hazards, or interference with navigation systems.
KCAA said the petrol station project was assessed within these regulatory frameworks before approval was granted.
The clarification came after the project attracted widespread debate online, with some Kenyans questioning whether a fuel facility located near a flight path could pose safety risks.
Previous JKIA concerns
The statement follows a previous controversy involving access to restricted sections of JKIA’s airside area.
In December 2025, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) addressed a viral video showing a convoy of SUVs driving on the airport tarmac.
KAA clarified that the incident occurred on October 8, 2025, when a visiting African prime minister arrived in Nairobi to attend the 24th COMESA Summit.
According to the authority, the dignitary’s motorcade was granted access to the restricted area as part of standard VIP protocol for international leaders attending major summits.
“Kenya Airports Authority would like to address recent online reactions concerning a video showing a convoy of SUVs accessing the restricted airside area of JKIA tarmac,” the agency said in its earlier statement.
KAA noted that the leader arrived at 1707 hours and was received by a cabinet secretary, adding that all airside access followed established aviation security procedures.
“Such protocols are standard at JKIA for international summits and comply fully with aviation security standards, prioritising both operational integrity and dignitary safety,” the authority said.
Aviation oversight
KCAA and KAA are the two main agencies responsible for aviation oversight in Kenya, with the regulator focusing on safety standards and compliance, while KAA manages the country’s airports and related infrastructure.
Authorities maintain that developments near critical aviation facilities must comply with strict safety and regulatory requirements designed to protect passengers, aircraft, and airport operations.
