About Us

Representing the interests of players in the Kenyan Aviation Industry

KAAO brings together commercial/private/recreational air operators, approved training organizations (ATOs), approved maintenance organizations (AMOs) , hot air balloon operators, remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) operators, tourism associations and companies, financial institutions, insurance firms, fuel companies and marketers, tax and audit firms, local and foreign business associations and many other aviation related associations and industry experts under its umbrella to enable them to speak with one voice when engaging with government, legislators, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, development partners and other stakeholders on policy issues, development plans geared towards long-term and sustainable growth of the air transport industry in the Country. KAAO also brings members together to exchange information and learn from each other through events, groups, meetings and forums.

Member Airlines

50+

Industry Years

40+

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Mission

To promote and enhance operations of a safe, efficient and sustainable National Aviation Industry by encouraging adherence and maintenance of high civil aviation safety standards and practices.

Vision

To create a safe, efficient and economically viable National Aviation industry.

 

Objectives

  • Collective representation
  • Desensitize difficult issues faced by individual members
  • One voice for the industry
  • Influence policy
  • Easy access to professional advice
  • Direct access to Government and Government Agencies
  • Self regulation through code of conduct/ethics
  • Provision of fora to discuss and shape the industry
  • Liaison with other organizations

Behind The Wheel

  • Executive

  • Chairman

    Mbuvi Ngunze
    Vice Chairman (Nairobi)

    Jimmy Kibati
    Vice Chairman (Coast)

    Simon Penfold
    Honorary Secretary

    Liz Aluvanze
    Member

    Capt. Mohammed Abdi
    Member

    Alex Avedi
    Member

    Capt. Godwin Wachira
    Member

    Capt. Jim Streit
    Member

    Shakeel Khan
    Member

    Paul Antrobus
    Member

    Allan Kilavuka

    Chairman

    Mbuvi Ngunze

    Mbuvi Ngunze serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) providing great leadership and strategic guidance to the organization in its mandate to promote, foster and protect the interest of those engaged in civil aviation and associated industries in Kenya. He also holds the position of Non- Executive Chairman of Safarilink Aviation Ltd, Chairman for Sustainable Power Solutions (Pty) Ltd., Chairman of Mettle Solar Investments Pty Ltd., and Chairman for St Andrew’s School Turi. Mbuvi Ngunze is also on the board of ARM Cement Plc, Bamburi Cement Co. Ltd., JamboJet Ltd. and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Chairman of Northern Rangelands Trust.

    Vice Chairman (Nairobi)

    Jimmy Kibati

    Jimmy Kibati serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Managing Director/CEO of Z Boskovic Air Charters with a career in aviation spanning over 28 years. He is well-grounded in the international travel industry (airport and airline) and has held various executive positions with Kenya Airports Authority as the General Manager Business Development and Marketing, the Ag. Commercial Director in Kenya Airways, the Chief Commercial Officer in Virgin Nigeria and the General Manager /Managing Director of Fastjet Airlines, East Africa (Fastjet Tanzania and Fastjet Kenya).

    Vice Chairman (Coast)

    Simon Penfold

    Simon Penfold serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Sales Director at Scenic Air. He has over 20 years in the air transport and tourism industry bringing vast experience in Marketing development, Business Strategy and Sustainability.

    Honorary Secretary

    Liz Aluvanze

    Liz Aluvanze serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Operators (KAAO) as the CEO of the Association. Liz leads the Associations’ Secretariat functions in its advocacy efforts in the development of a safe, efficient and sustainable air transport industry through co-ordination with stakeholders when engaging with government, legislators, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, development partners and external stakeholders on policy issues, development plans geared towards long-term and sustainable growth of the air transport industry in the Country.

    Member

    Capt. Mohammed Abdi

    Capt. Mohamed Abdi serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Chairman and CEO of Skyward Express. He has over 25 years in the aviation industry bringing extensive experience in business growth and development, strategic planning, cargo operations, government relations and financial planning.

    Member

    Alex Avedi

    Alex Avedi serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), is the CEO of Safarilink Aviation Ltd and is the Vice-Chairman of the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF). He is an experienced Aviation Safety and Operations expert with a demonstrated history of achieving results in a highly competitive service industry and has held various executive positions serving as General Manager Operations and Safety at Kenya Airports Authority and Director Corporate Quality, Safety, Security & Environment at Kenya Airways

    Member

    Capt. Godwin Wachira

    Capt. G. Wachira serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the founder and Managing Director of Flight Training Centre. A pilot by profession, he has over 30 years’ experience in the aviation industry and is highly acclaimed for his dedication and service in training countless pilots and

    Member

    Capt. Jim Streit

    Jim Streit serves as member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Director of Operations at African Inland Mission (AIM) Air.

    Member

    Shakeel Khan

    Shakeel Khan serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the CEO of Aircraft Leasing Services (ALS)

    Member

    Paul Antrobus

    Paul Antrobus serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Managing Director of Kasas Ltd.

    Member

    Allan Kilavuka

    Allan Kilavuka serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Group Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Airways PLC. He has extensive experience in strategy, business development, financial leadership and planning and has held various senior leadership positions serving as CEO of Jambojet and Head of General Electric (GE) in sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Team

  • CEO

    Liz Aluvanze
    Admin

    Salome Kariuki

    CEO

    Liz Aluvanze

    Liz Aluvanze serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Operators (KAAO) as the CEO of the Association. Liz leads the Associations’ Secretariat functions in its advocacy efforts in the development of a safe, efficient and sustainable air transport industry through co-ordination with stakeholders when engaging with government, legislators, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, development partners and external stakeholders on policy issues, development plans geared towards long-term and sustainable growth of the air transport industry in the Country.

    Admin

    Salome Kariuki

Chairman

Mbuvi Ngunze
Vice Chairman (Nairobi)

Jimmy Kibati
Vice Chairman (Coast)

Simon Penfold
Honorary Secretary

Liz Aluvanze
Member

Capt. Mohammed Abdi
Member

Alex Avedi
Member

Capt. Godwin Wachira
Member

Capt. Jim Streit
Member

Shakeel Khan
Member

Paul Antrobus
Member

Allan Kilavuka

Chairman

Mbuvi Ngunze

Mbuvi Ngunze serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) providing great leadership and strategic guidance to the organization in its mandate to promote, foster and protect the interest of those engaged in civil aviation and associated industries in Kenya. He also holds the position of Non- Executive Chairman of Safarilink Aviation Ltd, Chairman for Sustainable Power Solutions (Pty) Ltd., Chairman of Mettle Solar Investments Pty Ltd., and Chairman for St Andrew’s School Turi. Mbuvi Ngunze is also on the board of ARM Cement Plc, Bamburi Cement Co. Ltd., JamboJet Ltd. and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Chairman of Northern Rangelands Trust.

Vice Chairman (Nairobi)

Jimmy Kibati

Jimmy Kibati serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Managing Director/CEO of Z Boskovic Air Charters with a career in aviation spanning over 28 years. He is well-grounded in the international travel industry (airport and airline) and has held various executive positions with Kenya Airports Authority as the General Manager Business Development and Marketing, the Ag. Commercial Director in Kenya Airways, the Chief Commercial Officer in Virgin Nigeria and the General Manager /Managing Director of Fastjet Airlines, East Africa (Fastjet Tanzania and Fastjet Kenya).

Vice Chairman (Coast)

Simon Penfold

Simon Penfold serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Sales Director at Scenic Air. He has over 20 years in the air transport and tourism industry bringing vast experience in Marketing development, Business Strategy and Sustainability.

Honorary Secretary

Liz Aluvanze

Liz Aluvanze serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Operators (KAAO) as the CEO of the Association. Liz leads the Associations’ Secretariat functions in its advocacy efforts in the development of a safe, efficient and sustainable air transport industry through co-ordination with stakeholders when engaging with government, legislators, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, development partners and external stakeholders on policy issues, development plans geared towards long-term and sustainable growth of the air transport industry in the Country.

Member

Capt. Mohammed Abdi

Capt. Mohamed Abdi serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Chairman and CEO of Skyward Express. He has over 25 years in the aviation industry bringing extensive experience in business growth and development, strategic planning, cargo operations, government relations and financial planning.

Member

Alex Avedi

Alex Avedi serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), is the CEO of Safarilink Aviation Ltd and is the Vice-Chairman of the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF). He is an experienced Aviation Safety and Operations expert with a demonstrated history of achieving results in a highly competitive service industry and has held various executive positions serving as General Manager Operations and Safety at Kenya Airports Authority and Director Corporate Quality, Safety, Security & Environment at Kenya Airways

Member

Capt. Godwin Wachira

Capt. G. Wachira serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the founder and Managing Director of Flight Training Centre. A pilot by profession, he has over 30 years’ experience in the aviation industry and is highly acclaimed for his dedication and service in training countless pilots and

Member

Capt. Jim Streit

Jim Streit serves as member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Director of Operations at African Inland Mission (AIM) Air.

Member

Shakeel Khan

Shakeel Khan serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the CEO of Aircraft Leasing Services (ALS)

Member

Paul Antrobus

Paul Antrobus serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Managing Director of Kasas Ltd.

Member

Allan Kilavuka

Allan Kilavuka serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) and is the Group Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Airways PLC. He has extensive experience in strategy, business development, financial leadership and planning and has held various senior leadership positions serving as CEO of Jambojet and Head of General Electric (GE) in sub-Saharan Africa.

CEO

Liz Aluvanze
Admin

Salome Kariuki

CEO

Liz Aluvanze

Liz Aluvanze serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Kenya Association of Operators (KAAO) as the CEO of the Association. Liz leads the Associations’ Secretariat functions in its advocacy efforts in the development of a safe, efficient and sustainable air transport industry through co-ordination with stakeholders when engaging with government, legislators, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, development partners and external stakeholders on policy issues, development plans geared towards long-term and sustainable growth of the air transport industry in the Country.

Admin

Salome Kariuki

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