For the economy to soar, aviation must fly

The role of the aviation industry in catalysing and facilitating Kenya's economic development came into sharp focus during a watershed workshop held last Monday.

Convened by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure at Kenya Airways Pride Centre and presided over by Deputy President William Ruto, the workshop on the growth and development of the aviation industry was a landmark in more ways than one.

For starters, it was the first such meeting specific to the sector. The fact that it had the tacit support, involvement and participation of both Government and the private sector made it all the more special.

The workshop was evidence, if any was ever needed, of the importance the Government attaches to the aviation industry.

With its contribution to Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), both directly and indirectly, valued at 10 per cent; and with some 50,000 people living on jobs provided by the sector, aviation's critical role in our economy cannot be gainsaid.

As Kenya aspires to and actively seeks its 2030 vision of sustained 10 per cent GDP growth as set out in our flagship economic development blueprint, there is need for an efficient and seamless transport system.

Aviation is a key component of any country's overall transport equation and works together with other forms of conveyance such as roads, railways and waterways, to create what should ideally be a seamless, robust and versatile system.

Despite this realisation, the full potential of aviation as a strategic enabler and aid to trade and social interchange in Kenya has been underdeveloped and grossly underutilised.

A better developed and more efficient aviation sector is, therefore, a major opportunity not just for higher growth in the economy but also for employment, both in the industry and the many related sectors that service it.

A key recommendation was the need to develop and adopt a national strategy and policy framework to ensure a coherent and harmonised approach to the development of the aviation sector in Kenya.

This would ensure all concerned Government agencies together with the private sector share the same vision and work in tandem.

Issues to be monitored were captured in a communique issued at the end of the workshop; a vital nexus between workshop rhetoric and reality.

As a start, key players and stakeholders committed to ensure the sector had optimal resources in terms of security both on land and in the skies, and strictly adhered to existing regulation as further regulation and infrastructure is developed.

The decision to promote and support Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as the African aviation hub of choice presents a great opportunity for the national carrier Kenya Airways, whose overall strategy for Africa hinges on this fulcrum. Ditto other Kenyan carriers.

As is the norm worldwide, a policy requiring public officials to fly Kenyan-registered carriers whenever they are on official duty using public funds will be issued.

The workshop also recommended the enhanced collaboration between aviators and institutions of higher learning to improve the stock of human resources available to the sector.

The Government was challenged to come up with fiscal incentives that would encourage investment in the sector while pursuing partnerships with regional peers in the aviation space.

The workshop observed there was a great and urgent need for environment management practices that would ensure safety and security at airports and other air termini.

Issues relating to dump sites that attract birds close to airports were singled out for immediate attention.

Visa processing and the attendant costs continue to present a major challenge for visitors and passengers transiting through Kenya from certain countries.

The meeting stressed the need to simplify visa processing and reduce visa fees as a way of making Kenya, and by extension JKIA, a favourable destination for visitors from other parts of the world.

Perhaps the most important message from the workshop was the need for all players in the industry to act in concert to ensure aviation in Kenya achieves its full potential and operates at the highest levels of efficiency to underwrite the best customer experience for passengers.