Drone License Kenya Price (2026 Guide) + [How To Get A Drone License In Kenya]

Thinking of becoming a drone pilot in Kenya? This guide covers the requirements, costs, and everything you need to know to get started. If you are preparing for the RPL exams, I also offer a Drone licensing Prep Course.
Enroll here.

When I first got my license in 2022, I was excited to legally fly drones in Kenya after researching and writing about them for a couple of years.

Since then, I have worked as a surveillance pilot, mapping pilot, agricultural drone operator, instructor, and quality (regulations) professional. I have helped train and guide new drone pilots to licensing, too.

A lot has changed since I got my license, including some regulations, training requirements, and the licensing process itself. 

If you are considering becoming a drone pilot or starting a drone career in Kenya, this guide covers everything you need to know.

What You’ll Learn In The Drone Training Course

KCAA recently updated the curriculum for what students need to learn. They retained some topics and added some more. They include;

• Air Law – the various laws guiding how to fly a drone in Kenya, including licensing requirements, where you can and can’t fly, and the various approvals needed to fly.
• Meteorology – Here, you learn how to decode various meteorological codes (METARs and TAFs), which also helps when flying near aerodromes.
• Navigation and Flight Planning – Here, you learn about coordinates, GPS, Airspace classification and structures, and operation procedures.
• Human Factors – Here, you learn the various ways to maintain good airmanship by making sure, before flying a drone, you are not under stress, not under the influence of alcohol, not fatigued, and not under any medication that would affect your performance.
• Principles of Flight – Here, you learn how drones work; how they generate lift and stay in the air per Bernoulli’s Principle.
• Operational procedures – This covers flight planning, safety, and emergency procedures for the different levels of drone operations.
• RPAS General knowledge – This is a guide on the various components of a UAS, such as batteries, airframes, and C2 Links, how they all work, and, most importantly, how to maintain them.
• Flight performance, planning, and loading – This will teach you how to balance an aircraft’s weight, create flight plans, and apply proper loading procedures to ensure safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. 
• Radio telephony – This course introduces you to communicating and receiving information via radio, especially when operating near aerodromes. Initially, it was a separate course, but it is now part of the RPL licensing course.
• English proficiency – The training school will prepare you for an English Proficiency test that tests 6 areas, including pronunciation, structure, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and interaction. This test is required for Aviation professionals under ICAO standards.

What You Need To Get a Drone License in Kenya

To become a licensed drone pilot in Kenya, you will need the following;

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a Class 3 Medical Certificate
• An account on the ICAAS Portal
• Valid Kenyan ID or passport
• Pass the theory exams (RPAS Composite, English Proficiency, and Radio Telephony).
• Practical flight training

The Licensing Process

Initially, training schools handled the theory training and evaluation, and an approved KCAAA DFE would only come on the final day of practical training for the final evaluation. But KCAA recently changed that. Now, the UTOs are responsible for theory training, but the exams are to be taken at the KCAA headquarters.

Before starting the training, students are required to create an account on the ICAAS portal. I cover how to do that in this video.

This portal allows students to interact with the KCAA, including obtaining the SRPL (student remote pilot license), booking exams and retakes, applying for the RPL, and renewing it. The English Proficiency and Radio Telephony exams are also separately booked for on the portal.

How Long Does it Take to Get a License in Kenya?

Due to the recent changes, the licensing process might take longer than before. This is because the exam dates are set in advance, and slots for exams like English Proficiency or Radio Telephony fill up quickly. 

I’d say it will now take several weeks to complete the whole process. You also need to account for exam retakes.

To effectively prepare for these exams beyond the training at an approved school, you can consider taking my Prep course or booking a one-on-one training or consulting session.

Do You Need A License To Fly A Drone In Kenya?

To operate professionally, you will need to obtain a drone license from a KCAA-approved drone school. 

The KCAA can only give you approval to fly if you have a license. Flying without a license and the required approvals could result in fines, penalties, and other remedial actions.

But if you’re planning to fly as a hobby, you can get the hobby license, which is cheaper but limited in what you can do with it.

Can I Use A Drone In Kenya?

Yes, you can. You’ll need a license and authorization if you’re a citizen, a resident, a business, or a government entity.

You can get a 30-day permit to operate a drone in Kenya as a foreigner. You can also consider hiring a drone and a pilot.

How Much Is A Drone License In Kenya?

The recent changes also affected the pricing. Below are some of the KCAA charges;

• SRPL (Student Remote Pilot License )- Ksh 2000
• RPL Exams – KSH 4000
• English Proficiency – Ksh 3000
• Radio Telephony exams – Ksh 1000
• Issuance of RPL – Ksh 4000

There may be other costs depending on how the school runs its training program. Currently, training institutions are charging anywhere between Ksh 130,000 and Ksh 200,000.

To operate commercially, you will also need ops authorization and a ROC (Remote Operator’s Certificate), which costs Ksh 80,000 and is renewed annually for Ksh 50,000.

Since getting a ROC is a complex process for an individual, you can consider using another company’s ROC at a fee. Several ROCs in Kenya provide ROC support.

How Do I Become A Drone Pilot In Kenya?

To become a drone pilot in Kenya, you must attend training at an approved institution, such as Astral Aerial, Kendrone, DroneSpace, just to name a few, and pass both the theory and practical assessments. KCAA publishes an updated list of approved drone schools here.

How Much Does It Cost To Own A Drone In Kenya?

Besides buying the drone (which will cost more than KSh 100,000 for a good drone), you need to get third-party insurance, which costs about KSh 15,000.

But to operate a drone, you need an ops authorization that costs about Ksh 2000 for private operations and Ksh 2500 for commercial operations. For commercial operations, you will also need ROC support, and costs will vary by company.

How To Import A Drone Into Kenya

To import a drone, you must get an import permit from the KCAA. You can apply for it on the KCAA ROMS platform. The permit costs Ksh 3000, and you can use it to clear a drone at customs once it arrives in the country. I talk more about bringing a drone to Kenya here. If you bought the drone locally, it will be quite difficult to register it.

Conclusion

And there you have it. If you want to use drones in Kenya, start by getting licensed at an approved drone school.

Remember, this training teaches the basic uses of a drone and the laws. 

Still, you must go through it before moving on to advanced training in drone flying for applications such as photography, racing, agriculture, or aerial surveying.

Check out this post for more on how drones are being used in Kenya.aws. Still, you must go through it before getting into advanced training in drone flying for applications like photography, racing, agriculture, or aerial surveying.