The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is investigating three local airlines over alleged miraa cargo operations on the Nairobi-Somalia route, a move that could lead to licence action if violations are confirmed.
KCAA director-general Gilbert Kibe said the regulator was already looking into the matter but declined to give further details. “We are investigating the matter and that means I don’t have much to tell you at this point,” he said.
The dispute centres on the rules governing how goods are carried by aircraft. Under the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act 2016 and the Civil Aviation Act 2013, operators are required to follow safety standards for both passenger and cargo transport.
KCAA regulations allow cargo only in the compartments approved for passenger aircraft, while dedicated cargo planes must be specially configured to secure freight on board. The regulator says flying cargo on passenger aircraft will not be tolerated.
The probe comes as several local airlines operating through Jomo Kenyatta and Wilson airports in Nairobi have been linked to the Nairobi-Mogadishu route. The carriers named in the market include Silverstone, Skyward Express, Jetways, Bluebird Aviation, FlySax Aviation and Jubba Airways.
Kenya Airways had planned to begin flights on the route on November 15, but pushed the launch to December 5, saying the delay was due to “operational requirements beyond its control.”
The current inquiry follows an earlier KCAA action against Jetways, whose certificate was withdrawn after allegations that it had flown miraa to Somalia before completing its premises at the Kenya Airfreight Holding Centre. The regulator also said the airline’s warehouse lacked a Kenya Revenue Authority customs centre as required by law.
Jetways later had its licence restored two weeks after the withdrawal. KCAA said the alleged security breaches did not occur from Jetways’ facility and added that the airline had the requirements needed for a regulated agent certificate, including the KRA customs centre on site. The regulator also said the airline had modern security screening equipment.
KCAA has warned that breaches of aviation rules can result in licence withdrawal and may also expose Kenya-registered aircraft to wider restrictions from international air transport regulators such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
