Kenya’s presidential jet, the Kenya Air Force Fokker 70 KAF308, commonly called Harambee One, has returned after spending a year in the Netherlands for an extensive refurbishment, giving the veteran aircraft renewed operational capability while the issue of a permanent replacement remains unanswered.
The aircraft departed for the Netherlands in August 2025 to undergo a full overhaul carried out by Fokker Services Group. The work went far beyond ordinary servicing, encompassing thorough structural maintenance, a cabin interior makeover and modernisation of various onboard systems. On Thursday, 20 August 2026, the company announced that the aircraft had completed a substantial hangar stay at its Woensdrecht site.
Modern connectivity and extended service
The purpose of the overhaul was to render Harambee One suitable for presidential transport once more, addressing long-standing worries about the plane’s age and safety record. The most visible improvement concerns communications: the aircraft now houses the Gogo Galileo FDX satellite-communication suite, provided by GoGo Business Aviation. This equipment operates via Eutelsat OneWeb’s low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation, delivering contemporary, secure in-flight connectivity.
Fokker Services Group lauded the Kenya Air Force for keeping the aircraft airworthy for over thirty years, describing KAF308 as a robust airframe and one of the final Fokker 70s ever manufactured and delivered. Acquired in 1995, the jet has flown four Kenyan heads of state.
Repair history and future plans
The refurbishment follows a difficult 2025. In February of that year, the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction while attending a summit in Dar es Salaam, leaving President Ruto stranded and necessitating a backup Dash 8-100 to transport him home. The episode intensified safety concerns and showed the challenges of obtaining spare parts for an increasingly dated airframe.
During the period the jet was grounded, President Ruto relied on chartered aircraft for overseas trips, including a Boeing 737-800 BBJ2 operated by a Dubai-based provider for a state visit to South Africa in June, as well as earlier charters to the United States, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Those arrangements attracted public scrutiny regarding cost and perception.
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