Kenya has moved to overhaul its aviation sector with reforms centred on safety, digital tools, and environmental responsibility, a shift unveiled during the CANSO Africa Conference 2025 in Nairobi.

The gathering, held under the theme Future Skies for Africa, drew together regulators, service providers, and industry leaders to map out strategies for a more connected African airspace.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir set the tone for the reforms, pointing to both regulatory changes through the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and upgrades across airports run by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).

“In service delivery, Kenya [is] committed to enhancing the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of aviation services,” Chirchir explained.

Among the measures are new air traffic management systems, digital flight planning tools, and e-governance platforms.

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Artificial intelligence is also being considered as a way to predict maintenance needs and boost operational efficiency.

Safety remains a cornerstone. Chirchir outlined how the National Aviation Safety Plan has been aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Global Aviation Safety Plan.

He added that the reforms also address emerging challenges, including unmanned aircraft systems and the growing risk of cyberattacks.

Environmental action featured strongly in his presentation. According to Chirchir, Kenya is already applying the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

This includes carbon offset projects, the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels, and the construction of greener passenger terminals under the 2022–2028 CO₂ Emissions Reduction Action Plan.

KCAA Chairman Brown Ondego called on African nations to see the skies not just as airspace but as “corridors of opportunity, innovation, and transformation.”

He stressed that stronger cooperation and shared roadmaps are essential for the continent to move forward.

That call was reinforced by KCAA Director General Emile Arao, who noted the obstacles posed by fragmented airspace and uneven infrastructure.

“Africa has the opportunity to leapfrog legacy systems and adopt smart, scalable solutions. This conference is not just about vision, it is about execution,” he said.

By placing reforms on safety, digital innovation, and sustainability side by side, Kenya is signalling both a domestic ambition and a continental vision.

The challenge, as several speakers warned, is less about ideas and more about putting them into action.