Plan
Drone rules: Kenya
Last checked: October 5, 2026
Permit required
You may only fly here with a permit issued by the authorities in advance.
Every drone operation needs approval from the aviation authority KCAA. As a visitor, you can apply for a temporary permit for a maximum of 30 days, which can be renewed once.
Owners must register every drone with the KCAA; ownership is generally reserved for Kenyans, residents, companies and authorities. The regulations leave open whether the temporary visitor permit replaces registration.
Under the drone regulations (Regulation 40), liability insurance is required in principle; the authority may waive it depending on the category.
For tourists
In national parks and game reserves you also need permission from the park authority. For many tourists, renting a drone locally is the easier option.
Further rules
- In Kenya, every drone must be registered with the civil aviation authority KCAA, regardless of its purpose. However, ownership and registration are generally reserved for Kenyan citizens, residents and companies – as a tourist you apply for a temporary permit (maximum 30 days, renewable once), or you use one of the rental drones offered locally.
- Even in the low-risk range (category A: within line of sight, up to 400 feet, up to 25 kilograms), you need prior approval from the KCAA; a mere notification is not enough. Third-party liability insurance is generally mandatory – only the KCAA can grant an exemption, depending on the category.
- The maximum flight altitude is 122 metres (400 feet).
- No-fly zones apply within 50 metres of people and vehicles and within 7 to 10 kilometres of airports. For national parks and game reserves – an obvious photo subject – you also need permission from the relevant park authority in addition to KCAA clearance.
- Depending on the category, violations can result in fines of up to one or two million Kenyan shillings or imprisonment of up to one or three years.
- In short: administratively demanding with your own drone, but not impossible – for many tourists, renting a drone locally is the simpler option.
Sources
This overview is not legal advice and not an official statement — laws change, and we cannot guarantee that every entry is fully up to date. Before your flight, please also check the official source or the local civil aviation authority.