Billionaire businessman Peter Muthoka has sold his JKIA-based ground handling company, Transglobal Cargo Centre, to Turkish aviation firm Çelebi Aviation in a deal valued at approximately Sh5.17 billion ($40.1 million).
The acquisition was completed after the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) granted unconditional approval on January 21, 2026, ruling that the transaction would not negatively affect competition in the aviation cargo handling market.
Under the deal, Istanbul-based Çelebi Aviation acquired 100 per cent of Transglobal’s issued share capital through its German subsidiary, Çelebi Cargo GmbH.
Transglobal Cargo Centre operates under the Africa Flight Services (AFS) brand and is currently the leading export cargo handler at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), commanding an estimated 33 per cent market share.
Explaining the sale, Muthoka said the proceeds would be used to clear debts incurred during recent facility upgrades and to allow him to refocus on other business interests. Despite the sale, he will retain a strong presence in the logistics sector through his other company, Acceler Global Logistics.
The transaction marks one of the largest recent foreign acquisitions in Kenya’s aviation and logistics industry, further strengthening Çelebi Aviation’s footprint in Africa.
