Kwae Island Development Limited (KIDL) is a Nairobi-based corporation affiliated with President William Ruto.
The company manages his helicopter business.
KIDL, based at Wilson Airport, owns two hangars and five helicopters valued to be around Ksh 2.6 billion.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i identified the corporation among Ruto’s properties.
Aside from playing an important role in furthering political campaigns and activities, the helicopters are rented out, producing additional revenue.
The cost of hiring a helicopter has risen in lockstep with fuel prices over the last year.
The cost of jet fuel rose to more than Ksh 136 a litre in June 2022, up from Ksh 100 in January of the same year, prompting aviation firms to raise leasing prices.
For instance, Tropic Air now costs Ksh 332,248 per hour to lease a five-seater helicopter, up from Ksh 296,650 per hour in March last year, marking a 12% rise.
On the other hand, Bella Aviation upped its hourly rate for a five-seater helicopter to Ksh 248,745 from Ksh 213,210 in March 2022, a 17% increase.
Ruto’s KIDL owns different Airbus and Eurocopter models purchased for between Ksh 290 million and Ksh 970 million.
They include an Airbus H145 T2 purchased for Ksh 970 million, Eurocopter 130 T2 purchased for Ksh 740 million and Airbus H130 valued at Ksh 330 million.
Others are an Airbus H125 valued at Ksh 290 million, Airbus H125 valued at Ksh 290 million.
