This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
On March 26, 2019, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority issued a legal notice prohibiting the use of drones in Kenyan airspace. The notice, signed by KCAA Director General Captain Gilbert Kibe, specifically targets the operation of drones by the public for video coverage, film making, surveillance, and any other interference with Kenyan airspace.
According to the notice, individuals found guilty of violating this law face a jail term of not more than 12 months or a fine not exceeding Ksh. 100,000, or both. However, unmanned state aircrafts, drones owned and operated by the government, are exempt from these regulations.
The prohibition on drones is part of the Civil Aviation Act of 2013, which states that unmanned aircraft are not allowed to operate either on land or Kenya's territorial waters. The KCAA has clarified that the prohibition may be reviewed once regulations for drone operations are put in place under section 2 of the Aviation Act of 2013.
Interestingly, some African countries have adopted drone usage for commercial and private ventures, such as precision agriculture and film making, with positive impacts on their final products. For instance, in Rwanda, drones are used to deliver blood supplies to hospitals around the country.
