An Amateur Radio Station Licence permits hobbyists in Kenya to install and operate amateur (“ham”) radio equipment for non-commercial, experimental, and emergency-communication purposes. It is issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) via Form CA-F-FSM-02.
CA Fee Schedule for Amateur Radio
| Charge | Amount (KES) |
|---|---|
| Frequency Application Fee | 1,000 (one-time, per application) |
| Annual Radio Amateur Licence Fee (MF/HF) | 2,000 |
| Annual Radio Amateur Licence Fee (VHF/UHF) | 2,000 |
The annual fee is the same regardless of whether the operator uses MF/HF or VHF/UHF bands, making amateur radio one of the more uniformly priced frequency licence categories in Kenya.
Requirements for Licensing
- Passing a recognised amateur radio operator examination/qualification
- Submission of the Amateur Radio Licence Application Form (CA-F-FSM-02)
- Equipment specifications for the station to be licensed
- Compliance with the international amateur radio band plan and call-sign allocation
Related: Citizen Band Radio
Hobbyists interested in lower-power, license-light communication may alternatively consider a Citizen Band (CB) Radio Licence, which carries a simpler one-time fee of KES 1,000 and operates in the 26,925–27,403 kHz band, with no separate annual fee.
Application Process
- Complete the amateur radio qualification/examination process
- Submit Form CA-F-FSM-02 with the KES 1,000 application fee
- CA assigns a call sign and frequency authorisation
- Pay the KES 2,000 annual licence fee each subsequent year
At just KES 1,000 to apply and KES 2,000 a year to maintain, amateur radio remains one of the most affordable regulated hobbies in Kenya, though operators must still pass the required technical qualification before CA will issue a call sign.
Aircraft Radio Licence Fees / Charges
An Aircraft Radio Licence authorises the radio communication equipment installed aboard an aircraft to transmit and receive within the aeronautical mobile service. In Kenya, this is licensed by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) via Form CA-F-FSM-11, distinct from pilot personnel licensing, which falls under the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
CA Fee Schedule for Aircraft Radio Licences
| Charge | Amount (KES) |
|---|---|
| Frequency Application Fee | 1,000 (one-time, per application) |
| Annual Aircraft Station Licence Fee (MF/HF) | 4,800 |
| Annual Aircraft Station Licence Fee (VHF/UHF) | 4,800 |
A related licence, the Aeronautical Station Licence — covering ground-based radio stations communicating with aircraft (e.g. at airports or air traffic control facilities) — carries an identical annual fee of KES 4,800.
Why This Licence Is Separate from KCAA Licensing
While the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) licenses pilots, aircraft, and aviation personnel (including the Flight Radio Telephony Operator’s Licence for the person operating the radio), the Communications Authority of Kenya separately licenses the radio spectrum use of the actual onboard equipment. An aircraft owner/operator generally needs both: KCAA approvals for airworthiness/personnel, and a CA Aircraft Radio Licence for the transmitting equipment itself.
Requirements
- Technical specifications of the installed aircraft radio equipment
- Proof of aircraft registration
- Compliance with ICAO and CA frequency coordination requirements for aeronautical bands
Application Process
- Submit the Application for an Aircraft Radio Licence (Form CA-F-FSM-11) to CA
- Pay the KES 1,000 frequency application fee
- CA reviews technical compliance and frequency coordination
- Pay the KES 4,800 annual aircraft station licence fee, renewable yearly
At KES 1,000 to apply and KES 4,800 a year to maintain, the Aircraft Radio Licence fee itself is modest — but aircraft owners should budget for it as a recurring cost alongside KCAA’s separate aviation personnel and airworthiness fees, since both regulators are involved in getting an aircraft legally on the air and in the sky.
