The High Court of Kenya has ordered Airworks Kenya (AKS, Nairobi Wilson) to pay USD95,000 to Renegade Air (RNG, Nairobi Wilson) after finding the former admitted to a partial debt in a USD497,087 dispute over a 2022 aircraft lease.

In a March 12, 2026, ruling, Judge F Gikonyo said email correspondence between the two companies in January 2024 showed that Airworks Kenya had acknowledged owing part of the sum claimed under a May 30, 2022, lease agreement for DHC-8-100 5Y-RNZ (msn 361). The 32.8-year-old Renegade-owned turboprop has been parked at Entebbe since March 12, according to ADS-B data.

Renegade Air in February 2025 filed suit against Airworks Kenya for USD497,087 and asked that the defendant’s defence be struck out as a "sham". It expressed concern that Airworks was facing numerous other debtors and could be at risk of insolvency.

The judge found that Airworks Kenya had committed to pay USD200,000 in January 2024 but remitted only USD105,000, leaving an admitted balance of USD95,000. The court entered judgment for that amount under rules allowing decisions based on clear admissions without a full trial.

However, the court ruled that a full trial must be held to determine the validity of the remaining USD402,087 claimed by Renegade Air.

Airworks Kenya disputes the full claim, arguing that the aircraft was defective and that it incurred repair and penalty costs, claiming the aircraft was struck by another plane in South Sudan. Airworks alleged this incident resulted in USD128,835 in repair costs and an additional USD75,833 in penalties due to the loss of flight services, which it seeks to recover through a counterclaim of USD120,000.

The court ruled that these arguments presented "triable issues" that require further interrogation during a hearing.

The case will now proceed to a full hearing.

Renegade Air declined to comment, while Airworks Kenya had not responded by the time of publication.