Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has established an Aircraft Accident Investigation Team to review past aircraft accidents involving Kenyan-registered or operated planes in South Sudan and Somalia over the past five years.
The team comprises 11 members who have been tasked with five crucial roles as the Ministry aims to prevent similar incidents in the future.
"In Exercise of the powers conferred by section 53 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport establishes the Aircraft Accident Investigation Team," the notice read in part.
It will be led by Peter Maranga as the Chairperson and Fredrick Kabunge as the Co-chairperson, while Fredrick Aggrey will take the role of Vice-chairperson.
Other members are Captain Nduati Herman Njama, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Mike Mulwa, Ephantus Kamau, Captain Valentine Wendoh, and James Mwangi. The joint secretaries appointed to support the team are Brenda Mwango, Mathias Ombasa, and Albert Mwangeka.
The CS has entrusted the team with five crucial roles. The roles are to review all the preliminary reports of past aircraft accidents in the two regions.
To investigate any other matter relating to or consequential to the accidents, verify report findings through analysis, testing, and evaluation, and gather insights by engaging industry experts.
Further, the team has been mandated to engage industry experts. They may conduct interviews with aviation professionals to gather more insights.
The special investigation team is also expected to co-opt additional experts if necessary, to bring in more specialists to assist with investigations.
After gathering all this information, the CS expects the team to prepare and submit a comprehensive report of its findings and make any recommendations to address any safety issues that may be identified from the findings for action by the aviation industry in Kenya.
The committee has three months to complete this crucial role; however, Chirchir may extend their term if need be.
"The term of office for the Team shall be three months, with effect from March 27, and the Cabinet Secretary may, if necessary, extend the term of the office of the Team," the notice continued.
There have been several aircraft accidents involving Kenyan-registered or operated planes in South Sudan and Somalia over the years. The most recent incident happened on March 22, 2025, when a Kenyan cargo aircraft crashed near Mogadishu, Somalia, killing all five people on board.
