Kenya Airports Authority has reaffirmed its leadership in aviation safety and environmental stewardship by joining the Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment (FIRE) Project, a global initiative launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The initiative will phase out firefighting foams containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)—toxic “forever chemicals” that persist in the environment and are linked to serious health and ecological risks.
The project will support airports in Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Africa to transition to safer, fluorine-free alternatives while ensuring operational safety and integrity.
KAA brings valuable experience to the project, having successfully phased out fluorinated foams across six airports between 2015 and 2016, the only African country to have achieved this transition independently.
“This project marks a significant step forward in Kenya’s commitment to protecting public health and the environment,” said Dr. Mohamud Gedi, acting CEO and Managing Director of KAA.
“By phasing out harmful PFAS chemicals from firefighting foams, we are safeguarding our communities and contributing to a cleaner, safer future for all.”
The FIRE Project will also facilitate the safe removal of 4,500 tonnes of PFAS-contaminated material from fire trucks and disposal of 130 tonnes of PFAS-based foam concentrate.
In addition, KAA has welcomed a proposal to establish a regional Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) training hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which will feature an aircraft simulator and wastewater recovery system to build capacity across Africa.
By joining FIRE, KAA continues to demonstrate its commitment to modernizing aviation safety infrastructure and advancing sustainable, environmentally responsible operations in line with international standards.
