Kenya Airways donates Boeing 737-700 plane to Mangu High School
Kenya Airways has generously donated one of its Boeing 737-700 aircraft to Mangu High School. The primary purpose of this donation is to provide support for aviation studies at the school, with the long-term goal of supplying the airline with skilled personnel for the aviation sector. Notably, Mangu High School, which is on the verge of celebrating its centenary next year, has been one of the first educational institutions in the country to introduce aviation studies. Many of its former students now hold various positions within the airline.
This contribution marks the first time that Kenya Airways has bestowed a complete aircraft to an institution through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. In 2016, the airline had previously donated an engine to the Technical University of Kenya for a similar educational purpose.
The Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, commended this act of generosity, characterizing it as a testament to Kenya Airways’ support for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). He praised the airline’s CSR initiatives for equipping students with practical skills and technological knowledge that will give them a competitive edge.
Murkomen emphasized the importance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in advancing educational and aviation reforms. He spoke during the handover ceremony held at hangar 1 at the airline’s headquarters in Embakasi, stating that the African aviation sector offers significant opportunities and vacancies that remain unfilled.
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According to a recent report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Africa is projected to require 55,000 skilled aviation professionals in the next two decades, including 15,000 pilots, 17,000 technicians, and 23,000 cabin crew.
Murkomen posed the question of how Kenya could benefit from these opportunities and establish dominance in the continent’s aviation sector while exporting talent and skills to global markets. He suggested that encouraging the creation of incubators for innovation and talent development is one way to achieve this goal.
In addition to its flight and cargo operations, Kenya Airways operates the Fahari Innovation Hub, an active aviation hub that fosters new ideas and data-driven innovations. The airline also runs an approved aviation school known as the Pride Centre, offering a range of courses to prepare candidates for successful careers in the aviation sector.
Kenya Airways’ CEO, Allan Kilavuka, highlighted the impressive specifications of the donated aircraft, which includes a wingspan of 35.79 meters and a length of 33.63 meters. The aircraft features 16 business class seats and 100 economy class seats. Manufactured in 2003, it accumulated over 56,861 flight hours and 20,966 flight cycles during its two-decade-long career.
The aircraft was retired from active service in December 2021 and will now embark on a new journey as an educational tool for Mangu High School students.
Supporting this transition, KCB Bank donated Sh5 million to assist in moving the aircraft from the hangar to the school and equipping the school with aircraft learning equipment such as flight simulators and aircraft maintenance tools. Crown Paints pledged to provide paint for repainting the plane, which will be registered as 5W MHC, replacing its former registration of 5W KQH.
Kilavuka reiterated Kenya Airways’ commitment to providing technical support to the school and announced ongoing discussions with universities, particularly TUK and Kenyatta University (KU), to ensure that aviation curricula align with industry demands. Mangu High School’s principal, John Kuria, expressed gratitude for the donation, highlighting its potential to inspire students and bolster aviation technology education.
The chairman of the Mangu High School Alumni Association, Ronald Meru, showcased four alumni who are now pilots and emphasized the significance of this partnership in enhancing aviation studies. General Michael Gichangi, Kenya Airways board chairman and an alumnus of Mangu High School, acknowledged the school’s historical role in the country’s aviation industry and viewed this donation as a major milestone that would strengthen the industry’s momentum.
Kenya Airways donates Boeing 737-700 plane to Mangu High School
