Kenya Is Retiring The Old Presidential Jet Harambee One After 30 Years For A Newer Model

After three decades of faithful service, Kenya’s presidential aircraft Harambee One is set to be retired following its final maintenance stint in the Netherlands, marking the end of an era for the aging Fokker 70 that has transported four heads of state across African skies.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya confirmed that the 30-year-old aircraft is currently undergoing what will be its last maintenance cycle at Fokker Services Group warehouses, where it will remain for one year before returning to Kenya in 2026.

The decision to retire the jet comes after repeated mechanical failures and safety concerns that have disrupted presidential travel on multiple occasions.

The writing was on the wall for Harambee One during a February 2025 East African Community and Southern African Development Community joint summit in Dar-es-Salaam, where the aircraft developed mechanical problems just as President William Ruto was preparing to depart.

The embarrassing incident forced Ruto to watch other heads of state leave ahead of him, breaking diplomatic protocol, while engineers struggled unsuccessfully to repair the fault.

The Kenya Air Force had to dispatch an alternative aircraft from Nairobi the following morning.

This was not an isolated incident. During a trip to Switzerland, the aircraft’s hydraulic system developed a leak shortly after takeoff from Nairobi, forcing pilots to make an emergency landing in Cairo.

The jet has also experienced recurring problems with a faulty airframe that causes doors to jam, prompting aviation experts to declare it no longer airworthy or economically viable.

Fokker Services Group, which manufactures spare parts for the Dutch-made aircraft, has advised Kenya to retire the jet as maintenance costs have become unsustainably expensive.

The challenge is compounded by the scarcity of spare parts for the Fokker 70 Extended Range model, of which only 47 were ever produced before the original manufacturer collapsed in March 1996.

Kenya acquired Harambee One in December 1995, just months before Fokker’s bankruptcy, during President Daniel arap Moi’s administration.

The aircraft has since served Presidents Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and now William Ruto, becoming a symbol of Kenya’s sovereignty in international diplomatic circles.

The Fokker 70 ER was designed primarily for short-haul flights with a maximum range of 3,850 kilometers, meaning long-distance presidential trips require fuel stops that add significant costs and logistical complications.

For intercontinental travel, Kenyan presidents typically use Harambee One to reach Dubai before connecting to commercial or chartered flights.

While the government has no concrete timeline for procuring a replacement, Tuya indicated that a new presidential jet could be acquired within the next two years, subject to budget availability.

In the interim, President Ruto will rely on Kenya Air Force VIP aircraft, Kenya Airways commercial flights, or chartered jets for official travel.

The reliance on alternative arrangements has already proven costly and controversial.

Ruto’s use of private jets, including during his 2024 state visit to Washington, attracted criticism over exorbitant expenses before it was clarified that the UAE government had provided the aircraft.

As Kenya prepares to bid farewell to Harambee One, the retirement of this veteran aircraft underscores the practical challenges facing African nations in maintaining aging government fleets while balancing fiscal constraints with the demands of modern diplomacy.

The search for a suitable replacement will test Kenya’s ability to acquire modern aviation assets that can reliably serve its presidential transport needs for the next generation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​