It costs about Ksh 100 million and above to own a personal helicopter, a handful of high-flying Kenyans have a collection of personal choppers parked in hangers in airports across the country.
The price of helicopters varies depending on brands, just like a Toyota Vitz cost less than a Mercedes E- Class.
A brand new Cessna is about Ksh 43 million while the Eurocopter brand cost more than Ksh 100 million.
Buying a chopper is the easy part, but maintaining is quite a hassle. Helicopters consume up to Ksh30,000 worth of fuel per hour. Parking per night at Wilson Airport is Ksh 10,000 and the landing fee is Ksh 1,000.
Insurance is between Ksh 8 million and up to Ksh 10million depending on hours flown by the pilot.
Hiring a chopper also doesn’t come cheap, the cost is usually calculated on an hourly basis once the helicopter is airborne.
Charges vary from Ksh 150,000 to Ksh 170,000 per hour.
Well, there are rich Kenyans who nevertheless don’t need to hire choppers because they own at least one helicopter.
Below is the list of famous Kenyans who own personal helicopters:
Uhuru Kenyatta – operated by Flex Aviation
Eurocopter AS350B3e
5Y JNM
5Y NMJ
William Ruto – operated by Kwae Island Holdings
Eurocopter AS350B3e
5Y DSM
5Y DSN
Eurocopter EC130B4
5Y DSC
Raila Odinga
Eurocopter EC 130 B4
5Y HOD
Kalonzo Musyoka
Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil’s
Registration Number 5Y-DKK5Y-DKK
Ephrahim Maina
Bell 407
5Y PSM
Bell 206
5Y MNW
Patrick Musimba Kibwezi MP
Bell 407
5Y PPS
Late Simeon Nyachae
Eurocopter AS350B3e
5Y HSN
Musalia Mudavadi
Eurocopter EC 130 B4
5Y TXM
Lenny Kivuti
Bell 206
5Y HKK
S.K. Macharia (Royal Media Services)
Eurocopter AS350B3
5Y DSB
5Y SGM
Peter Kenneth
Bell 407
5Y PKI
5Y PKZ
Joshua Chepkwony
Eurocopter AS350B3
5Y HJK
Gideon Moi
Eurocopter As350B2
5Y ZKL
Hughes 300
5Y ZKM
General Julius Karangi – operated by Aberdair
Eurocopter AS350B3e
5Y FWE
5Y MNJ
5Y NKW
Guru of Devki
Eurocopter EC 130 B4
5Y DCC
Eurocopter AS350B3e
5Y DVK
5Y EVG
Ian Mumano – operated by Ladylori
Eurocopter AS350B3e
5Y BTW
5Y BVM
Eurocopter EC 130 B4
5Y GYM
Jimmy Wanjigi
Eurocopter EC 130 B4
5Y JWJ
Phil Mathews
Eurocopter EC 130 B4
5Y KGV
Eurocopter AS350B3e
5Y KUI
Joshua Kulei – operated by Phoenix Aviation
AgustaWestland 119 VIP
5Y RBY
Capt. Newton Osiemo – operated by Wilken
Eurocopter AS350B2
5Y HLI
Late Nicholas Biwott – operated by Air Kenya
Eurocopter AS350B3e
5Y HNB
5Y JNB
William Kabogo
Eurocopter AS350B3
5Y–EXK
