Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ordered the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to prepare a draft law to control developments around airports.
Murkomen gave the order during a meeting with the Kenya Association of Air Operators at Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
The CS revealed that the new law is aimed at preventing the new developments from stifling the aviation industry he believes is thriving.
"Today, I met the Kenya Association of Air Operators and assured them of my Ministry’s commitment to reforming the sector," the CS stated.
"Further, I asked the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to prepare a draft law to control developments around airports so that they don't stifle our thriving aviation industry."
During the breakfast meeting, the CS further noted that new reforms included a master plan for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport as well as an Airstrip Fund for maintaining airfields across the country.
For now, KCAA regulations mandate all developers to seek approval from the authority before putting up a storey building next to an airport.
The height of buildings is regulated to ensure that there is no obstacle hindering landing planes. In most instances, the buildings are capped at four floors.
"No object shall penetrate the obstacle limitation surface, without the written permission of the Authority, where the object may cause an increase in an obstacle clearance altitude or in the height for an instrument approach procedure or of any associated visual circling procedure," KCAA stated.
Additionally, airport traffic management relies on radar signals to control traffic. Large buildings are likely to block inbound and outbound signals hence affecting communication between the command centre and pilots.
Murkomen's directive comes a week after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja tabled proposals aimed at extending the limit on storey buildings to 75 floors.
The Governor explained that the limit would be lifted in specific areas and would correspond with the development of sewage and transport systems.
