The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is investigating three local airlines over allegations that they have been moving miraa, also known as khat, on the Nairobi-Somalia route in breach of aviation rules.
KCAA director-general Gilbert Kibe said the matter was under review and warned that operators found to have violated the regulations could lose their licences.
“We are investigating the matter and that means I don’t have much to tell you at this point,” Mr Kibe said.
The regulator had earlier directed that cargo should only be carried on aircraft configured for that purpose. Under the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act 2016 and the Civil Aviation Act (2013), operators are required to follow safety rules for both passenger and cargo transport.
KCAA says breaching those rules can lead to licence withdrawal and could also expose Kenya-registered aircraft to wider sanctions from international aviation bodies such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Passenger aircraft are only allowed to carry cargo in designated compartments, while cargo planes are fitted with special systems to secure freight on board.
Airlines operating between Nairobi and Mogadishu include Silverstone, Skyward Express, Jetways, Bluebird Aviation, FlySax Aviation and Jubba Airways. Kenya Airways had planned to begin flights on November 15 but pushed the launch to December 5, citing “operational requirements beyond its control.”
The current probe comes months after KCAA withdrew Jetways’ certificate over its transport of miraa to Somalia before completion of its premises at the Kenya Airfreight Holding Centre. Investigators also said the airline’s warehouse lacked a Kenya Revenue Authority customs centre as required by law.
Jetways’ licence was later restored two weeks after the withdrawal. KCAA said the alleged security breaches did not occur from Jetways’ facility and that the airline had the requirements for a regulated agent certificate, including the KRA customs centre on site. The regulator also said the airline had modern security screening equipment.
