Following Kenya Civil Aviation Authority’s (KCAA) approval of the use of drones freely in Kenya, there is a likelihood that more people will acquire drones for various uses.
A drone is a remote-controlled pilotless aircraft that has a wide range of uses for leisure, commercial purposes, security operations among other uses.
KCAA has permitted drones to use in Kenya for sports, private activities and commercial purposes. These should be done while abiding by KCAA regulations guiding the use of drones in Kenya. The following are the costs you’re likely to incur to have and operate a drone in Kenya:
The purchase cost. How much you will pay for a drone depends on the type of drone you are purchasing. There are low-end drones and high-end drones. According to the prices of drones posted at a popular e-commerce website in Kenya, you can acquire a drone with as little as Sh5,700. The most common high-end drone at the site is worth Sh200,000. However, you should consider the use you want to make of the drone. For a quality drone to use for photography purposes you require about Sh30,000.
Shipping Charges. Most drones in Kenya are imported from overseas. A popular e-commerce website in Kenya has listed shipping Charges of just Sh250. However, if you import a drone directly, you are likely to pay higher to a tune of Sh2,200 according to a shipping agency in Kenya.
KCAA Licence charges. To operate a drone in Kenya you need a license from Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. To apply for the license, one has to demonstrate general knowledge of flight performance and navigation skills. KCAA Private Pilot Licence (PPL) application charges are Sh3,200.
This means that you can own and operate a drone in Kenya with about Sh10,000.