The Ministry of Roads and Transport has announced a comprehensive initiative seeking to regularise and strengthen the country’s air market access.
The move aims at advancing national interests in safety, security, and overall economic growth through global best practices.
“As Kenya continues to honor existing Air Service Agreements which facilitate cross-border air transport, it is important to ensure that all market access applications are evaluated systematically and consultatively and address potential areas of unfair treatment, including airport access, slot allocations, fund repatriation, key staff employment, advertising rights, and taxation.” Roads CS Davis Chirchir said.
“We have engaged over the last months key sectors, including trade, agriculture, tourism, the private sector representation as well as the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCCA,) to regulate our country’s air acces, and we are on track in dealing with all the current applications through this tool.”
The new guidelines are designed to ensure fair and balanced opportunities for foreign airlines while safeguarding the country’s strategic interests.
The Ministry noted that aviation has long been regarded as a strategic sector for states, balancing vital safety and security imperatives with significant economic and commercial benefits.
These priorities are reflected in the historic Chicago Convention (1944) and the formation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1947
Both recognise air transport as a special sector demanding fair, reciprocal, yet context-sensitive international cooperation.
ICAO, in alignment with the World Trade Organization (WTO), acknowledges the principle of differential treatment, recognizing that nations possess varying capacities and development levels, and thus require tailored approaches to air transport liberalization.
A Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) chaired by the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Teresia Mbaika, commenced a consultative, structured process for assessing all external airline market access applications that did not exist before.
This was done with a view to supporting decisions that advance the country’s strategic national interests in aviation and related sectors.l
Mbaika reiterated the need to support the industry with this framework, which will play a key role in supporting the country’s air industry development.
“The robust air transport sector Kenya aspires to build relies on serious, consultative processes that guarantee equity and mutual benefit," she said.
"By regularising the market, Kenya not only protects its interests but also sends a strong signal to the global aviation community that the country is committed to fair, transparent, and globally recognized standards for all operators.”
The Ministry stated that in the past, dishonest individuals exploited this environment to bypass its procedures.
It added that the current stakeholder engagement process emphasises inclusivity across related sectors to safeguard fairness and infiltration by these unscrupulous individuals.
Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, has hailed the move to open the country's air market access as of substantial benefits to tourism.
This includes higher visitor arrivals, increased revenue, and job opportunities for the local businesses.
“Air transport enhances connectivity locally, regionally, and globally, making it easier and more affordable for tourists to reach Kenyan destinations," she said.
"The move to regulate air market access is a major boost to our five million tourists by 2027 target. We will benefit immensely from the deep connection between air access and tourism.”
Cabinet Secretary for Trade Lee Kinyanjui and his Agriculture counterpart, Mutahi Kagwe, also welcomed the move.
They indicated that it will see more cargo uplift and possible consideration for leveraging 5th freedom rights to ensure more exports, especially agricultural perishable cargo.
Kenya’s aviation sector is central to its economy, supporting over 26,000 direct jobs, contributing US$1.5 billion to GDP, and sustaining thousands more jobs in tourism, exports, and ancillary services.
This ongoing reform, including strategic investments in infrastructure and expanded partnerships, will maintain Kenya’s role as a prominent aviation hub for East and Central Africa.
Membership of the TEC includes the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife (MoTW), State Department of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), Kenya Airways (KQ), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (Secretary).
