1340 Flight RAF arrived at Eastleigh on 27 March 1953, commanded by Squadron Leader Charles G. St. David Jefferies,[3][4] for anti-Mau Mau rebellion operations.

[9] Because of the wooded terrain, the Harvards weren't used for two months because General Hinde thought they would be ineffective.

[3] However, because of its high elevation and short runways (which could not be extended because of its location close to the city), from the arrival of No.

208 Squadron RAF in the late 1950s with its Hawker Hunters, jet fighters and bombers had to operate out of nearby Embakasi Airport.

Beforehand, the suitability of Eastleigh to post-War commercial airliners became a burning question; it retained a dual military-civilian role while a site was sought for a more modern, bigger civil airport.

1414 (Meteorological) Flight RAF equipped with Gloster Gladiator, Boulton Paul Defiant, Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, Percival Proctor and No.

82 Squadron RAF (perhaps between 1947 and 1952, carrying out aerial surveying) and a Communications Flight operated from the base.

After the coup attempt by a group of KAF officers on 1 August 1982, the Kenya Air Force was disbanded and placed under the control of the Kenyan Army.