At least 90 aircraft belonging to private operators and individuals have been abandoned at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, choking available parking space and complicating airport operations as the Kenya Airports Authority struggles to remove or auction them.

Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu says grounded aircraft are occupying parking areas intended for operational planes. Wilson has about 70 ground-handling positions, and congestion has become serious enough that some aircraft are parked outside designated bays while active operators compete for limited space.

KAA has identified dozens of abandoned aircraft and attempted auctions, but disposal has been slowed by ownership disputes, incomplete records and aircraft whose owners cannot be traced. The congestion is also denying the authority parking and landing revenue that could be earned from active aircraft.