Kenya Airways has warned that the proposed Strategic Goods Control Bill, 2026 could significantly disrupt flight operations if civil aviation parts and services are not exempted from additional regulatory clearance requirements.
Kenya Airway, appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, said the Bill could slow down importation of critical aircraft spare parts needed to maintain operational reliability.
KQ Secretary and Director of Legal Services Habil Waswani told lawmakers that aviation equipment is already strictly certified under international safety regimes including ICAO, FAA and EASA standards.
Habil Waswani argued that introducing another layer of approval under the Bill would duplicate existing oversight mechanisms and create inefficiencies for airlines already operating under tight turnaround schedules.
He warned that delays in clearing essential parts could directly affect flight reliability, particularly for Kenya Airways’ relatively small fleet of about 34 aircraft.
Operational Disruptions and Aircraft Downgrades
For instance, he cited a recent incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that developed a technical fault before a scheduled flight to Dubai, forcing the airline to downgrade passengers to a smaller aircraft.
The airline added that spare parts often arrive overnight on inbound international flights and require immediate customs clearance to avoid operational disruptions.
KQ warned that introducing additional bureaucratic layers without fast-track provisions for aviation components could undermine competitiveness against major global carriers such as Emirates and Ethiopian Airlines.
The carrier proposed a pre-clearance framework for airline-specific parts and equipment to speed up approvals while maintaining security oversight.
Waswani said civil aviation components present minimal national security risk due to strict international certification and monitoring systems.
Kenya Airways maintains that any new legislation affecting aviation logistics should be aligned with ICAO standards and global best practices to avoid unintended consequences on safety, reliability and competitiveness.
Lawmakers are expected to incorporate industry feedback before finalising the report, which will determine whether aviation-specific exemptions are introduced into the final version of the Strategic Goods Control Bill 2026.
