Kenyan tycoons will be counting losses following an announcement by the State to auction 92 planes parked in various airports.
In a Gazette notice dated Friday, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) asked the owners to pay all outstanding charges within thirty days from the date of publication, failure to which the said airplanes will be sold via public auction.
The notice revealed details of the type of aircraft, registration marks, last known operator, the airport where the aircraft is held, and the parking area.
Some of the aircraft include 748 Air Services, Fly540, Fly Sax, National Airways, African Express, Capital Airline, Flight Training Centre and Jetways.
Others include Skylink Flight Service, DAC Aviation, Freedom Airline, Capital Airline, ACE Air, Wilken Aviation, and Reliance Air Charters Standard Aviation.
The airplanes are held in various airports such as Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Lokichoggio, Malindi, and Wilson airports.
The notice is in line with the Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act which provides for the disposal of goods that have been deposited under various conditions but not re-delivered.
According to the Act, the owners are given a notice to collect within a specified period. If the depositor has not resumed possession after the lapse of the notice, the custodian is allowed to auction the items under law.
"Notice is given pursuant to the provision of the Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act (Cap. 38) of the laws of Kenya, to the parties appearing on the Schedule herein below to take delivery of the aircraft parked at various airports’ aprons/airside areas or any unserviceable aircraft parked in the airports' movement areas in absolute contravention of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices," the notice read in part.
"Delivery must be done within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice and upon payment of all outstanding charges and any incidental costs, including the cost of publication of this notice, failure to which the said aircraft will be sold by public auction."
According to the notice, the proceeds of the auction shall cover any incurred charges during the period. Further, the balance of the amount, if any, shall remain at the owners' credit.
Should there be a shortfall, the owners will be held responsible.
