Aviation

Aviation Law in Kenya

Kenya sits at the centre of East African aviation. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is one of the region’s busiest hubs, a national carrier anchors a growing route network, and steady expansion in private, charter and cargo operations has made the country an important market for aircraft finance and regulation. OLM Law advises airlines, financiers, lessors, operators and investors as aviation lawyers in Kenya, across both transactions and disputes.

The regulatory framework

Civil aviation in Kenya is governed principally by the Civil Aviation Act and the regulations made under it, with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) responsible for safety oversight, licensing and the aircraft register. Kenya is a party to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment (the Cape Town Convention) and its Aircraft Protocol, which give lenders and lessors internationally recognised protection over aircraft objects. We help clients work within this framework with certainty, whether registering an aircraft, structuring a lease or financing a fleet.

How we help

• Aircraft finance and leasing — structuring and documenting operating and finance leases, sale-and-leaseback arrangements and secured lending, including the registration of international interests and the use of Irrevocable De-Registration and Export Request Authorisations (IDERAs).
• Registration and de-registration — entering and removing aircraft on the Kenyan register, and advising on mortgages and the priority of competing interests.
• Regulatory and licensing — air operator certificates, route and traffic rights, and ongoing compliance with KCAA requirements.
• Commercial agreements — code-share, ground-handling, maintenance, charter and interline arrangements.
• Disputes and investigations — passenger and cargo claims, carrier liability, and representation in regulatory and safety proceedings.

Why clients choose OLM

Aviation work rewards precision and speed. Our team combines banking and finance experience with a working knowledge of KCAA procedures, so that financings close on time and registrations are completed without avoidable delay. Clients deal directly with the advocate responsible for their matter.

Frequently asked questions

How is an aircraft registered in Kenya?

Registration is handled by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. The applicant must establish eligibility, satisfy ownership and airworthiness requirements and file the prescribed forms; we manage the process and any associated mortgage or lease registration.

Does Kenya recognise the Cape Town Convention?

Yes. Kenya has acceded to the Cape Town Convention and its Aircraft Protocol, which allows international interests in aircraft to be registered and gives financiers recognised remedies, including IDERA-based de-registration.

To discuss an aircraft financing, lease or regulatory matter, contact OLM Law’s aviation lawyers in Nairobi.