A dark cloud hangs over the nation today following a tragic aircraft crash in Mwihoko, Kiambu County. A light aircraft belonging to AMREF Flying Doctors went down in a residential area on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in the confirmed deaths of six people. The incident has sent shockwaves through the medical and aviation communities, and an investigation into the cause is now underway.
The aircraft, identified as a Cessna Citation XLS with registration 5Y-FDM, had four individuals on board at the time of the crash. According to Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula, the fatalities include the four people on the aircraft—two doctors and two nurses—as well as two members of the public who were at the scene. The aircraft had departed from Wilson Airport at 2:17 PM and was en route to Hargeisa, Somalia, when it crashed under circumstances that remain unclear.
In a statement addressing the tragedy, AMREF Flying Doctors CEO Stephen Gitau confirmed the incident and stated that the organization is "cooperating fully with relevant aviation authorities and emergency response teams to establish the facts surrounding the situation." The swift and coordinated response from a multi-agency team, which included the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the National Police Service, was crucial in conducting rescue and recovery operations at the crash site.
Authorities have since cordoned off the area as investigations continue. The cause of the crash is a top priority, and experts from various agencies will be working to piece together the events that led to this devastating incident. The loss of life is particularly heartbreaking, as the victims on board were medical professionals dedicated to serving others through their work with AMREF Flying Doctors. Their mission to provide life-saving services has been tragically cut short, and the entire nation mourns their loss.
