The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has confirmed that the grassland fire that broke out on Friday near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has not affected critical infrastructure or disrupted airport operations.
The fire erupted in a section of the airport’s grassland near 75 Airport North Road. However, KAA assured the public that all airport functions, including flight schedules, passenger processing, and cargo handling, remain unaffected.
A coordinated response team—including the KAA Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), and the Nairobi County Fire Unit—was deployed to contain the fire.
“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,” the Authority said in a statement.
Despite the fire, planes continued to land at the busy airport as firefighters worked to put out the blaze, which had already burned several acres along the airport fence.
Hundreds of onlookers gathered along Airport North Road, recording the incident on their phones. Witnesses reported that the fire started around 7 p.m.
The Kenya Red Cross also confirmed the incident, stating that emergency teams were on the ground working to contain the blaze and prevent further spread.
KAA, established in 1991, is responsible for managing Kenya’s airport network. It oversees four international airports, four domestic airports, and several airstrips, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Moi International Airport (MIA), Eldoret International Airport (EIA), Wilson Airport (WAP), and Kisumu International Airport (KIA).
