Nairobi MCA urges relocation of Moi Air Base to boost Eastleigh development
The base is also home to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority's East African School of Aviation, established at the airport in 1954 as the DCA Training School.
Nairobi's Eastleigh South MCA, Nicholas Okwacho, has requested the government to relocate Moi Air Base from Kamukunji to promote the area's development.
He explained that Eastleigh's population is increasing rapidly, and having the air base there is hindering the development of local businesses.
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"Initially, we were not allowed to build four-storey buildings near Moi Air Base. But I think the time has come for the military base to be relocated and the land given back to the community to develop the area," Okwacho said.
Moi Air Base, formerly known as RAF Eastleigh and Eastleigh Airport, is used by the Kenya Air Force.
The base is also home to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority's East African School of Aviation, established at the airport in 1954 as the DCA Training School.
The base is also used to train Kenyan Air Cadets.
Defending his statement, the City legislator said that he was elected to represent the interests of Eastleigh residents, who are mostly businesspeople.
The ODM legislator added that his proposal was based on a recent Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2023 on the Nairobi City County Development Control Policy, which revised the height of tall buildings in some areas.
"If we have 30-storey buildings in Eastleigh, I don't think the airport will be safe. That is my opinion as a leader, we will leave the rest to the national government," he said.
In the policy paper submitted to the Nairobi County Assembly by Governor Johnson Sakaja for approval, the tallest buildings in some areas, including Eastleigh, will be 25 storeys.
Last month, President William Ruto announced that the government was lifting the 12-floor cap on Eastleigh storey buildings and increasing it to 30 floors.
During an impromptu visit to Mathare, Ruto explained that the cap aims to increase accommodation for all citizens.
He emphasised that improved accommodation will ensure that slum dwellers are provided with decent lifestyles, thus promoting harmonious living.
"Since I am the Commander in Chief, I have said that in Eastleigh, you couldn't build a house beyond 12 floors but now we can build storey buildings of up to 30 floors so that citizens can get accommodation and live in a harmonious neighbourhood," Ruto added.
In the proposed Nairobi City County Development Control Policy, Eastleigh, Pumwani and Ziwani are classified under zone 2 with a limit of 25 floors while Riverside, Parklands and City Park are classified under zone 3c with a limit of 20 floors.
Areas in the Central Business District including Haile Selassie, University Way, Uhuru Highway and Tom Mboya Street will be classified as zone one with a floor limit of 75 floors while areas surrounding the newly-launched Railways City will have a limit of 50 floors.
Valley Road, Uhuru Highway, Dennis Pritt Road, Ralph Bunche Road and State House Road will also be limited to 75 floors.
Others with a similar limit include Ngong Road, Hospital Road, Upperhill Link Road, Mbagathi Way, and Argwings Kodhek Road.
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