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A tragic aviation accident in Nairobi has claimed the lives of six people after a light aircraft operated by the medical charity Amref Flying Doctors crashed shortly after takeoff. The Cessna plane departed Wilson Airport on Thursday afternoon, heading for Hargeisa, Somalia, before it went down in the Githurai residential area and burst into flames.
Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula confirmed that four people on board were killed, including doctors, nurses, and the pilot. Two others on the ground also lost their lives, and two additional individuals sustained serious injuries. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority reported that the aircraft lost both radio and radar contact just three minutes after departure.
Emergency services, including the Kenya Defence Forces and the National Police Service, quickly arrived at the crash site to assist in rescue and recovery operations. Amref Flying Doctors expressed deep sorrow at the loss of their colleagues and confirmed they are cooperating fully with investigators to determine the cause of the crash.
The medical charity, well known for its work in providing emergency healthcare services across Africa, has been a symbol of life-saving outreach for decades. The loss of its personnel is a heavy blow not only to the organization but also to the communities they serve.
In a separate but equally tragic incident in Kenya on the same day, a train collided with a bus near Naivasha town, killing at least four people. The bus, belonging to the Kenya Pipeline Company, was transporting staff from a morning shift when the collision occurred. Injured individuals were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Both accidents have prompted renewed calls for enhanced transport safety measures in the country. While investigations continue, the families of those lost in these tragedies are left to grieve, united in the hope that lessons will be learned to prevent similar events in the future.