Maa Community issues ultimatum to Orly Airpark over jobs and safety

Tension is rising around Orly Airpark, one of Kenya’s busiest pilot training facilities, as members of the Maa community demand jobs, corporate social responsibility projects, and an extended runway to enhance safety for trainee pilots.

Dozens of residents on Tuesday gathered near the airstrip’s electric fence, waving placards, chanting protest songs, and demanding that the management honour promises made more than a decade ago when the facility was established in the area.

Community elder Joseph Ole Nkeri said the airstrip uses their land and airspace, and therefore, the community must also feel its benefits.

Located about 50 kilometres south of Nairobi, Orly Airpark was opened in 2011 as a private airstrip meant to decongest Wilson Airport, Kenya’s main general aviation hub. Today, it handles an estimated 6,000 flight movements annually, training dozens of pilots for local and international airlines.

The airstrip has two runways: a paved cabro-block runway and a 700-metre grass runway. The grass strip is particularly important for training because it allows landings and take-offs in crosswind conditions, but pilots say its short length raises safety concerns.

According to Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) data, 20 percent of minor training accidents reported between 2018 and 2023 occurred during landings on short runways, underscoring the risks involved when students are learning.

Concerns have been raised that when student pilots train on a short runway, the risk of overshooting or veering off increases. Extending it to at least 1,200 metres would make training safer.

Beyond safety, residents argue the airpark has not done enough to benefit the host community. They are demanding more jobs for local youth, bursaries for students, and projects such as the construction of a police post, improved roads, and better water supply.

“Our young men and women should not just watch planes take off while they remain jobless,” said Benjamin Tipatet, a resident of Isinya.

Orly Airpark’s board, through its member Christian Strebel, said it is reviewing the matter but blamed other companies with huge debts for halting most of the facility’s planned projects.

The community has issued a seven-day ultimatum, threatening to pull down the airstrip’s perimeter fence if their demands are not met — a move that could paralyse pilot training.

Local leaders, including Deputy County Commissioner Michael Yator, have urged dialogue.

“Both parties must find common ground. The facility is an economic asset, but it must coexist peacefully with the community,” he said.

The standoff highlights a broader challenge in Kenya’s aviation sector — balancing growth with local expectations. As Kenya positions itself as a regional training hub, experts warn that community buy-in will be essential to avoid similar clashes in the future.

For now, all eyes are on Olooloitikosh as the countdown continues, with the future of hundreds of aspiring pilots — and the stability of the community — hanging in the balance.