Tension is growing at Wilson Airport after key aviation stakeholders rejected the Kenya Airports Authority’s (KAA) move to hand a Sh1.5 billion rehabilitation contract to Frontier Engineering Limited Company.
The stakeholders accuse KAA’s acting Managing Director, Mohamed Gedi, of corruption and favoritism, claiming that the contractor lacks the necessary capacity and technical expertise to handle such a major project.
The decision has triggered a standoff that has left the airport in a state of decay, disrupting air travel, grounding several flights, and forcing some airlines to shift operations to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
What should have been a straightforward infrastructure upgrade has instead become a breeding ground for graft and mismanagement.
Frontier Engineering Limited Company Faces Credibility Questions
Aviation insiders say the Sh1.5 billion Wilson Airport renovation contract was never about merit. It was about who had political protection. Frontier Engineering Limited Company, the firm controversially awarded the contract, is reportedly linked to Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif.
According to stakeholders, the company has no history of handling complex aviation or runway projects. “The company that was awarded the tender cannot handle it,” an insider said. “They think it’s like digging a rural road and laying murram. This airport requires specialized expertise.”
Documents reveal that Frontier Engineering was not the top candidate during the initial evaluation. Halane Construction Company had won the tender based on technical competence and experience. But the decision was mysteriously overturned under the watch of KAA Acting MD Mohamed Gedi.
Sources claim Gedi personally pushed for the deal, raising serious concerns about abuse of office and potential kickbacks. Stakeholders have now demanded an independent investigation into how the tender was awarded and whether due process was followed.
The scandal has paralyzed airport operations. Runways are filled with potholes, terminals remain half-renovated, and safety concerns are mounting daily. “KAA is mismanaging the whole issue,” said another source. “The airport is operating at only 30 percent capacity.”
KAA Leadership Under the Microscope
This is not the first time questions have been raised about procurement at KAA. Multiple senior managers are already under probe over the award of airport rehabilitation and construction tenders worth over Sh7 billion. The Wilson Airport case, however, exposes just how deep corruption runs within the agency’s leadership.
KAA Acting Managing Director Mohamed Gedi has emerged as the central figure in this latest controversy. Insiders allege he has surrounded himself with loyalists who manipulate tender processes and suppress dissent. “Everything is controlled from the top,” said a senior employee. “If you question the process, you’re transferred or sidelined.”
Stakeholders—including airlines, cargo handlers, and industry regulators—say they have lost faith in KAA’s leadership. They accuse the authority of turning one of East Africa’s busiest domestic airports into a corruption battlefield. The result is delayed development, flight congestion, and lost revenue for businesses that depend on Wilson Airport.
Legal Clouds over Frontier Engineering Limited Company
Further scrutiny of Frontier Engineering Limited Company raises more red flags. The company has been in a legal dispute with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over taxable income from non-trade receipts amounting to nearly Sh1 billion. This conflict suggests questionable financial conduct and possible tax evasion.
Experts warn that awarding such a company a major public contract not only violates procurement integrity but also undermines public trust. “This is a clear case of conflict of interest,” said a former KAA official. “No company facing tax issues should be entrusted with a strategic national infrastructure project.”
By contrast, Halane Construction Company—the firm initially selected before being replaced—has a solid reputation. Halane has handled major projects such as the Tarbaj-Kutulo road and has worked with global partners like the World Bank. It has also engaged in community outreach projects, including food aid for vulnerable families.
The contrast between Halane and Frontier reveals a troubling pattern: qualified companies are being sidelined to favor politically connected firms. The result is poor-quality work, inflated costs, and stalled national development projects.
The Road Ahead for Wilson Airport
The ongoing impasse has left Wilson Airport in disrepair. Airlines are rerouting, passengers are inconvenienced, and aviation safety is at risk. The longer the standoff continues, the more the airport’s reputation and performance suffer.
Stakeholders are now calling on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to probe the tender process. They want accountability from KAA’s leadership and the removal of officials linked to corruption.
What began as a Sh1.5 billion project to modernize one of Kenya’s most strategic airports has turned into a symbol of how corruption and incompetence can ground progress. Unless urgent action is taken, Wilson Airport could soon lose its place as the country’s main hub for domestic and regional flights.
