Women in Aviation group sues digital ticketing firm over dinner event cash

The dispute, filed before the Milimani Small Claims Court, centres on revenue collected during the organisation’s Women in Aviation Dinner Night event held in March, 2026.

Court documents show the aviation lobby group contracted M-Tickets on February 6, 2026 to provide ticketing and revenue collection services for the event at an agreed commission of five percent.

The organisation says the online platform collected a gross total of Sh527,000 from ticket sales but only remitted Sh190,000, leaving an outstanding balance of Sh310,650.

It says the platform collected and accounted for the money in its own revenue statements but failed to release the balance despite repeated demands and legal notices.

The case places fresh scrutiny on Kenya’s fast-growing digital ticketing industry, where event organisers increasingly rely on third-party platforms to process payments, issue tickets and manage customer transactions.

Women in Aviation Kenya Chapter says repeated follow-ups failed to secure payment, prompting its lawyers to issue a demand letter dated March 23, 2026 before filing the suit on May 13.

The advocates also warned that failure to settle the amount would trigger escalation of the dispute to the Communications Authority of Kenya.

“We shall escalate this matter with the regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya and take other steps including but not limited to, filing a recovery suit against you, as well as cautioning the public and other stakeholders from the use of your system,” the lawyers stated.

'Client revenue'

In witness statements filed in court, the lobby group's treasurer Mary Mukulu says the organisation relied on M-Tickets to collect and remit revenue generated from the dinner event.

She says the platform sold 98 tickets under different pricing categories, including 54 early-bird tickets priced at Sh5,000 each, 15 advance tickets at Sh6,500 and 29 flash-sale tickets at Sh5,500.

According to documents attached in court, the sales generated Sh527,000 in gross collections.

An account statement generated by M-Tickets and filed in court indicates the platform deducted a five percent commission amounting to Sh26,350 and reflected “client revenue” of Sh310,650 after an earlier cash-out of Sh190,000.

Ms Mukulu told the court the company failed to remit the remaining amount despite repeated requests.

“The respondent’s conduct constitutes a clear failure and/or refusal to account for and remit funds collected on our behalf,” she stated in her affidavit.

The organisation is seeking recovery of the Sh310,650 alongside interest and legal costs.

M-Tickets Kenya Limited had not filed a response to the claim by the time of publishing this article. The matter is scheduled for mention on June 2, 2026 before adjudicator L.M. Mwanzia.

The dispute emerges as Kenya’s events industry increasingly shifts toward online-based ticketing systems powered by M-Pesa and other digital payment channels.

Digital ticketing firms now dominate concerts, conferences, fundraising dinners and corporate events by offering organisers automated ticket sales, instant payment processing and electronic attendance management.

The rapid expansion has transformed event management but also exposed organisers to risks linked to delayed remittances and disputed collections.

Women in Aviation Kenya Chapter was registered as a non-governmental organisation in April 2024 and focuses on promoting women’s participation in the aviation industry.

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