Panic as KAA prepares to demolish buildings in parts of Diani

Diani Airstrip. KAA says some individuals had constructed buildings on flight path. [Courtesy]

Security officials and experts are contemplating bringing down the mushrooming commercial and residential buildings around the Diani airport and flight paths in Kwale deemed to be risky for aircraft and local residents.

However, as the government ponders to take the move in a few weeks to come, the two parties have embarked on round table negotiations to have the owners demolish the buildings themselves.

Kwale county commissioner Karuko Ngumo confirmed to the standard that negotiations were at an advanced stage before next move taken.

"We are on discussions, the negotiations have brought all the stakeholders on the table before we ponder next move," the county security chairman told the standard.

Last week, Kwale security county team and the airport security officials held a crisis meeting at the airstrip premises to discuss the looming danger.

After the meeting, a supervisor of the building under construction near one of the mosque and at flight path was arrested.

The suspect Alphonse Bonanzi was supervising the construction of one of the buildings that has reached the fifth floor instead of 2nd floor as per regulations.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) in an earlier interview had confirmed to the standard that on March 13 they wrote to the county government concerning the issue, which is yet to be addressed.