The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has said that the grassland fire witnessed on Friday at the surrounding Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has not impacted critical infrastructure and operational zones.
This follows a fire breakout at some part of the JKIA airport grassland towards 75 Airport North Road.
The Authority said that all airport activities, including flight schedules, passenger processing, and cargo handling, remain fully operational and unaffected.
According to KAA, a coordinated response team, including the KAA Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), and the Nairobi County Fire Unit, is working to contain the situation.
“KAA assures the public that the fire is confined to non-operational grassland areas and has not impacted any critical infrastructure or operational zones of JKIA,” KAA said in a statement on Friday.
Planes continued to land at the busy airport as firefighters battled the fast-moving blaze, which had already destroyed hundreds of acres along the airport fence.
Hundreds of onlookers gathered along Airport North Road, capturing the scene on their phones. According to witnesses, the fire broke out around 7 p.m.
“The authority will provide further updates as more information becomes available.”
Kenya Red Cross confirmed the incident, saying they had dispatched an emergency team on the ground.
“Emergency response teams are on-site battling a grassland fire inside JKIA, along Airport North Road, Nairobi County. Efforts are underway to contain the blaze and prevent further spread,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement.
The Kenya Airports Authority is an autonomous body established in 1991 through an Act of Parliament and is charged with an umbrella responsibility of providing and managing a coordinated system of airports in Kenya.
KAA manages four international airports, four domestic airports, and several airstrips.
The main airports managed by KAA are: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Moi International Airport (MIA), Eldoret International Airport (EIA), Wilson Airport (WAP) and Kisumu International Airport (KIA).
