ADVANCING AVIATION EXCELLENCE: KENYA STRENGHTENS SAFETY , SECURITY, EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS 2026

Today marked a significant milestone in Kenya’s journey to cement its position as a global leader in aviation excellence. The Principal Secretary, State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ms. Teresia Mbaika, CBS, led a delegation of experts from the State Department and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) led by Chairman Mr. Brown Ondego to present 38 draft regulations under the Civil Aviation Act (Cap. 394) before the National Assembly’s Committee on Delegated Legislation. This is part Kenya’s responsibility to align to the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in international air navigation. 
The engagement held during the Committee’s Pre-Publication Scrutiny Retreat in Mombasa and chaired by Hon. Samuel Chepkonga, CBS, MP culminated months of inter-institutional collaboration involving the Office of the Attorney General, the National Assembly, the Ministry for Roads and Transport and KCAA. The team presented revised regulations for pre-publication, with seven key instruments specifically listed for committee approval, alongside two unpublished regulations on Approved Training Organizations and Units of Measurement to be Used in Air and Ground Operations for review and endorsement.
This process is firmly anchored in the Statutory Instruments Act (Cap. 2A, Laws of Kenya), which mandates rigorous parliamentary scrutiny to ensure that delegated legislation is clear, legally sound, practical, and responsive to public interest. 
These regulations are not just about compliance, they are about competitiveness, safety, and sustainability. They domesticate International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) under the Chicago Convention, ensuring Kenya meets its obligations as a contracting state while positioning Kenya’s aviation sector at the forefront of global best practice. These updates strengthen regulatory oversight, passenger safeguards, and operational efficiency critical pillars for maintaining Kenya’s Category 1 safety rating and attracting investment, routes, and partnerships. 
Kenya has long been a regional aviation hub, but the future demands more than legacy status. Modernizing the country’s regulatory framework to align to ICAO  signals to airlines, investors, and partners that Kenya is safe , efficient, future ready and fully aligned with international norms.
The State Department’s commitment to working closely with Parliament and sector stakeholders ensures that the final regulations will be practical, enforceable, and impactful.