Kenya’s presidential jet, Harambee One, has returned to the country after undergoing an extensive year-long maintenance programme in the Netherlands, where it received interior refurbishment and major technology upgrades.
The Kenya Air Force’s Fokker 70, registration KAF308, underwent deep maintenance and systems upgrades at Fokker Services Group in the Netherlands.
The Dutch aviation company confirmed that the aircraft had completed extensive hangar maintenance, including the installation of a new FDX Satcom system supplied by GoGo Business Aviation.
“Deep maintenance, interior and system upgrades and even the newest with FDX Satcom system installation,” Fokker Services Group stated.
The GoGo Galileo FDX system uses Eutelsat One Web’s low-Earth-orbit satellite network to provide high-speed internet connectivity while the aircraft is airborne.
The system can deliver download speeds of up to 195 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 32 Mbps through a full-duplex electronically steered antenna.
KAF308 had been undergoing maintenance in the Netherlands since August 2025, leaving Kenya without its dedicated presidential aircraft for much of the past year.
Following its return, the aircraft has resumed operational flights, with flight-tracking data showing it operating several domestic sectors between Nairobi, Eldoret, Mombasa and Malindi this week.
However, KAF308 is yet to be identified on a presidential mission since its return. Its recent flights have been conducted under the FLOKI100 designation rather than the Kenya 001 call sign associated with presidential operations.
During the maintenance period, President William Ruto relied on alternative aircraft for some international trips.
In June, he travelled to South Africa aboard a privately chartered Boeing 737-800 BBJ2, registered T7-BBJ2 and operated by Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group, for a three-day state visit to Pretoria.
The return of Harambee One is expected to reduce Kenya’s immediate reliance on chartered aircraft for presidential travel.
Fokker Services Group described KAF308 as “one of the last ones built and delivered” and praised the Kenya Air Force for maintaining the aircraft exceptionally well throughout its three decades of service.
The aircraft, acquired in 1995, has been modified from its original 70-seat configuration to 26 seats to provide VVIP comfort and greater fuel-range capability.
Harambee One has served four Kenyan presidents, Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto.