Kenyan aircraft owners have been given a 30-day ultimatum to reclaim their planes from Ndjili Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
This is according to a recent notice published by the Kenya Gazette. Failure to comply will result in the aircraft being sold at auction by a representative of Air Kasai, a DRC-based company. The notice specifically mentions a Fokker-type aircraft with registration number 5Y-SKN, which has undergone repairs while at the airport. The owner is required to settle outstanding storage and repair charges before the plane can be released. This directive, issued under Kenya’s Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act (Cap. 38), stipulates that owners must retrieve their aircraft within the specified timeframe after paying all accrued fees and related expenses.
“Notice is given pursuant to section 5 of the Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act (Cap. 38) of the laws of Kenya, to the owner(s) of the undermentioned Aircraft/salvage: registration 5Y-SKN, serial No. 20110 Fokker 50 type, which is lying at the premises of Ndjili Airport, Kinshasha, DR Congo, to take delivery of the same within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice upon payment of all outstanding storage and repair charges and any other incidental cost uncured thereto at the date delivery is taken,” the notice reads in part.
Milestone Auctioneers has been designated to conduct the sale of these vehicles and machinery through public auction or private treaty at Ndjili Airport if the owners fail to reclaim their property. This situation is not unique to the aviation sector as similar actions are being taken in other industries. For instance, Tata Holdings has announced plans to auction trucks and other vehicles that have remained unclaimed in their garage on Mombasa Road for over five years.
The owners have been given a 30-day grace period to collect their property, after which Top Scout (K) Limited will proceed with the sale through public auction or private agreement. The notice details a total of 33 items, including 27 motor vehicles, all of which have been in storage for more than half a decade. This trend extends beyond these cases as other auctioneers have advertised the sale of motorcycles and automobiles left in various garages across Kenya.
