Wealthy Kenyans push number of registered planes to 1,268

Politics and policy

A Cessna Caravan that belongs to Phoenix Aviation. The aircraft is ideal for charter flights to game parks and oil exploration sites. PHOTO | FILE 

By ALLAN ODHIAMBO

In Summary

• The 1,268 aircraft comprise those belonging to operators of scheduled flights, charter flights and privately owned planes that operate from small airports and airstrips.
• More than 80 per cent of the recently registered vessels are light aircraft weighing up to 10 tonnes that are popular with individual owners and firms operating light charter flights.

The number of registered aircraft in Kenya grew by 32 per cent in the past five years to 1,268 in a show of growing affluence by the elite who are driving up demand for air travel.

The 1,268 aircraft comprise those belonging to operators of scheduled flights, charter flights and privately owned planes that operate from small airports and airstrips.

Data from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) shows that the country had 958 registered planes five years ago.

More than 80 per cent of the recently registered vessels are light aircraft weighing up to 10 tonnes that are popular with individual owners and firms operating light charter flights.

“There has been an increase in demand for domestic air transport implying a promising shift from the use of road and rail to air transport,” KCAA said.

KCAA data also show that aircraft take-offs and landings on domestic routes grew substantially in the past five years.

By end of June 2014, a total of 176,503 landings and take-offs were registered on domestic routes representing a 36 per cent jump from the 130,237 aircraft movements registered in 2009.

Though national flag carrier Kenya Airways has helped push up the number of registered aircraft through its on-going fleet modernisation drive, that has so far amounted to less than 30 deliveries in five years.

Kenya’s business magnates, politicians and freshly minted millionaires are fast taking to the air as the preferred mode of transport – expanding the market for leasing and private ownership of planes.

Apart from urban-based business leaders, politicians and wealthy deal-makers, Kenyan skies are also dominated by large scale farmers and ranchers based in Nanyuki, Kitale, Laikipia and Narok.

The list of wealthy politicians who fly personal planes includes former MPs Ephraim Maina, Peter Kenneth, John Harun Mwau and Kiambu governor William Kabogo.

Retired politician Simeon Nyachae, former minister Nicholas Biwott, Baringo senator Gideon Moi and miraa mogul Musa Gurian also make the list.

READ: Kenya’s flying millionaires

Aero Club of East Africa – a lobby group of private aircraft owners – attributes the growth in number of registered planes to Nairobi’s rising status as the region’s business hub and a growing number of wealthy individuals with the means to own and maintain an aircraft.

“There is also marked increase in the number of flying schools as well as recent growth in demand for air safaris that is now depressed because of the tourism industry’s security challenges,” said Rob Linck, who chairs the club.