A battle is brewing up between the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and a private developer erecting a structure in the way of planes accessing and leaving JKIA.
The investor has defied Government directive and started building a structure on a plot within the approach funnel to the runway of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
A garments company is putting up Manchester Knits factory next to JKIA, the initiative experts warn shall compromise the airport's accessibility.
KAA had written to Manchester Outfitters asking them to stop the construction of the building for the safety of the airplanes using the airport.
In a letter to the developer, KAA Managing Director M.S Muriithi stated; "the plot is shown edged in red on the attached plan of the area and in fact, we have already written to the Commissioner of Lands requesting him to revoke any allocation made in this area".
Manchester Knits is constructing the factory, on plot LR.NO.24092, while KAA is exploring all possible avenues to halt the works which The Standard reports had commenced.
"The above plot lays within the approach funnel to the runway… an area which should be free from obstacles, for the safety of aircraft on approach," the letter by KAA reads in part.
This comes at a time the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) and US authorities have already given JKIA a clean bill of health on international aviation flight standards, a ratification JKIA risks losing over surrounding buildings.
Air travel experts want the Government to consider demolishing all buildings that have been illegally erected in and around JKIA.
