Taskforce Recommends Restoration of Police Airwing to NPS

The National Taskforce on Improvement of the Terms and Conditions of Service and Other Reforms for Members of the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and National Youth Service has recommended the restoration of the Police Airwing to the exclusive control of the National Police Service (NPS).

The taskforce, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga, made the recommendation in its report released to the public on Monday, August 31, 2026.

The taskforce said the restored National Police Service Airwing (NPSAW) should operate in strict compliance with Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) standards on aircraft maintenance and airworthiness.

This should include meeting requirements on qualifications, training and accreditation of professionals working in the Police Airwing.

“The Taskforce recommends that the Police Airwing be restored to the exclusive control of NPS forthwith,” the report says.

The taskforce also called on Parliament to provide adequate resources and budgetary support to ensure the effective operation of the Police Airwing.

It further recommended that the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) provide competitive remuneration for professionals involved in running and maintaining police aircraft.

According to the taskforce, better remuneration would help the NPS retain skilled aviation professionals.

“On its part, NPSC should provide competitive terms of remuneration for professionals involved in the running and maintenance of police aircraft to ensure their retention in NPSAW,” the report says.

Alternatively, the taskforce recommended that the government consider leasing police aircraft, similar to the arrangement used for police motor vehicle transport.

“Alternatively, the Taskforce recommends Lease Hire of Police Aircrafts as is the case with Police motor road transport,” the report says.

The National Police Service Airwing was established in 1949 to support reconnaissance operations, which the taskforce described as a critical component of policing.

However, in 2019, following a presidential directive, the Airwing was transferred to the National Air Support Department (NASD), which is headed by a Kenya Defence Forces officer.

The taskforce said the transfer created challenges for the NPS in accessing and using its aircraft because the Service now has to seek authorisation from NASD.

“The Taskforce heard how this has hampered NPS’s operations and affected its capacity in flight operations,” the report says.

The taskforce said the arrangement had affected the ability of the police to effectively utilise the Airwing in carrying out its constitutional mandate.

The taskforce also examined the regulatory framework governing the Police Airwing.

It was referred to Gazette Notice Supplement No. 19 of February 18, 2022, which reinforced the requirement for NPS Airwing aircraft to be maintained and operated in accordance with KCAA regulations.

However, the taskforce raised questions over whether the NASD, which is partly staffed by KDF officers, is regulated by KCAA.

The report noted that while pooling resources could promote the efficient and economical use of expensive national assets such as aircraft, the arrangement should not compromise the independence of the NPS.

“Though the idea of pooling resources for effective and economical utilization of expensive national assets like aircrafts as other countries have done is laudable, the Taskforce finds that the NPS, an independent security organ with a clear and unshared constitutional mandate to maintain internal security, cannot effectively utilise the Airwing when its operations are under, or, are controlled by another organ,” the report says.

The taskforce acknowledged that concerns over poor management and technical failures in the maintenance and operation of the Police Airwing may have contributed to the decision to transfer its management to NASD.

However, it argued that the problems should have been addressed through appropriate reforms instead of transferring the Airwing to another agency.

“And while reports of poor management, technical failures to maintain and operate the Police Air Wing may have prompted the decision to transfer the management of the Airwing to NASD, appropriate measures should have been taken to address those failures as opposed to transferring the Air Wing to another agency,” the report says.