MPs reject State bid to divert air passenger charges to new weather agency
The committee emphasised that the Meteorological Bill, 2023, which would create KMSA, is still undergoing legislative processes and has not been finalised.
The National Assembly has blocked a government effort to channel air passenger service fees to the Kenya Meteorological Department, citing legal complications.
The National Assembly’s Transport Committee removed a proposed amendment to the Air Passenger Service Charge Act that aimed to give the weather agency a share of revenues from departing passengers.
More To Read
- Met warns of heavy rains, flood risks in central highlands, western and coastal Kenya
- Most of Kenya to experience warm, dry conditions this week - Kenya Meteorological Department
- Kenya Met forecasts delayed, suppressed short rains amid dry spells
- AMREF plane crash: Flight data recorder sent to US for analysis
- Showers, strong winds and extreme temperatures expected this week- Met department
- Kenya Met issues chilly weather, rainfall alert for multiple counties
The amendment sought to benefit the yet-to-be-established Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA), but the committee, led by Ndia MP George Kariuki, said allocating funds to an entity that does not yet exist would be improper.
“The amendment seeks to ensure that the Bill does not allocate public funds to a non-existent authority by removing reference to the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority that is yet to be established in statute,” the report reads.
The committee emphasised that the Meteorological Bill, 2023, which would create KMSA, is still undergoing legislative processes and has not been finalised.
“If this amendment to the Air Passenger Service Charge Act (Cap 475) passes earlier than the creation of the authority, funds will be earmarked for an entity that is legally non-existent,” the MPs noted.
The changes were part of a broader proposal that also includes merging the Tourism Promotion Fund into the Tourism Fund to reduce overlap. The Cabinet had earlier directed the consolidation of the two tourism agencies into a single body.
Currently, the Air Passenger Service Charge revenue is split between Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), and the Tourism Fund. International passengers pay $50 (Sh6,475), while domestic travellers pay Sh600.
For foreign flights, KAA receives 60 per cent, KCAA 20 per cent, and the Tourism Fund 20 per cent.
Domestic trip proceeds are divided as 50 per cent to KAA, 30 per cent to KCAA, and 20 per cent to the Tourism Fund.
The collections are substantial, with Sh23.5 billion raised from 3.6 million international flights in 2024, and Sh1.6 billion from 2.6 million domestic trips.
The government argued that Kenya Met should also receive funds because of its critical support to aviation safety, including real-time weather updates for pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport operations.
Despite this, MPs stressed that a legal framework must define the rules for sharing revenue before expanding the list of beneficiaries. “As the aviation sector continues to expand, the revenue generated from this charge is expected to increase significantly,” the committee stated, highlighting the need for clear and fair distribution.
Aviation stakeholders weighed in, with Kenya Airways backing the inclusion of the Meteorological Department but cautioning against reducing allocations to KCAA and KAA. The airline also warned that introducing additional recipients could affect the balance of costs for both passengers and operators.
Top Stories Today
