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{
    "id": 808746,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/808746/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 333,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Daniel Maanzo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2197,
        "legal_name": "Daniel Kitonga Maanzo",
        "slug": "daniel-kitonga-maanzo"
    },
    "content": "(KCAA) pursuant to Section 16 of the Statutory Instruments Act 2013, both at Parliament Buildings and their office headquarters in Embakasi, Nairobi. The Remote Piloted Aircraft System commonly referred to as drone or unmanned aerial vehicle is an emerging issue in Kenya. Although the technology has been in existence in other parts of the world for decades, drones were first introduced in 1849 by Austrians who sent unmanned bomb-filled balloons to attack Venice. Various conventions have since addressed the drone issues; that is, Paris Convention of 1919 and the Chicago Convention on Civil Aviation in 1944. The Chicago Convention specified high level requirements for contracting states. Articles 3 and 8 of the Convention relate to operation of the drones. International standards that regulate certain aspects of drone operation are currently being considered by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). There is a manual on remote piloted aircraft system of 2010. A drone is simply defined as aircraft without human pilot aboard. The flight of drones may operate with various degrees of autonomy either remote controlled, by human operator, autonomously or on-board computers. The Committee noted that compared to manned aircraft, drones were originally used for missions considered too dangerous for humans. Drones were originally used for military application. However, they are used and rapidly expanding to commercial, scientific, recreational, agricultural and the other applications such as policing, peacekeeping and surveillance of products, deliveries, aerial photography, agricultural, smuggling, and drone racing. Civilian drones now vastly outnumber military drones with estimates of millions currently in operation. The advancement in technology has resulted in sudden increase of interest in the use of drones for various applications and has put immense pressure on government regulatory authorities to establish proper regulatory controls to ensure safe, harmonised, seamless integration of drones into the aviation system. The increased use of drones for civilian application has presented many countries with regulatory challenges. Such challenges include the need to ensure that drones are operated safely without harming public and national security and in a way that will protect areas of national, historical and natural importance. In considering the regulations, the Committee noted and found out that there was an influx of drones into the country and that Kenya is yet to develop a regulatory framework. The Committee was not convinced that the provisions in the regulations as published by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, adequately addressed safety concerns and privacy of persons and property. The Committee found that there is need for further improvement of the Regulations. The Statutory Instruments Act and Article 118 of the Constitution provide that stakeholder consultation be undertaken, especially among the industry players, for example, the Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and the media. However, the Committee observed that the Regulations were not adequately subjected to public scrutiny especially at the county level. The authority sought to conduct a public sensitisation of the drone regulations and establish linkages with the county governments and the media industry. The Committee also observed that licence fees to register drones are prohibitive, hefty and out to discriminate on non-classification use of drones. Kshs200,000 was deemed too hefty especially for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for example, photographers. The KCAA also reported that they have received similar complaints and are working on reviewing the fees. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}