Only a few pilots are trusted to fly the Head of State in Kenya due to security reasons and retired Colonel James Gitahi was privileged to pilot two serving presidents.
The pilot from the Kenya Air Force flew former Presidents Daniel Arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki from 1992 to 2010 when he retired.
Gitahi took over in 1992 from retired Colonel Hussein Farrah who served under Moi's era from 1984.
In his 44-year-long career, Gitahi described the two presidents as opposites. According to the pilot, Moi was more outgoing and outspoken compared to his successor Kibaki, a man of few words.
In a past interview, he explained that Moi made his job easy and fun. Gitahi noted that his first encounter with Moi was as a co-pilot.
"It was a good feeling to fly the president," he stated.
"While on the plane, Moi was never seated on one seat. He would move around greeting different people. On some occasions he came to the cockpit enquiring where we were," he stated.
Gitahi described Moi as hands-on, punctual, and generous as he would give the pilot and his team a token of appreciation.
On piloting Kibaki, Gitahi noted, "If I look at President Kibaki, he was a quiet man, basically he used to read a lot of magazines and newspapers. We used to ensure that we have enough stock in the aircraft."
The man from Trans Nzoia county described his career as a fulfilling one having served the Head of States and being the first to fly the Fokker 70 Extended range presidential aircraft.
"It is a rewarding career and if it is possible I would continue but the regulations do not allow it," he stated.
In the Air Force, Gitahi and Farrah were part of the special squadron that flies VIPs. Notably, Gitahi received his training from institutions in Kenya and the United States.
After retirement, the two pilots worked at a local aviation company with over 18 aircraft.
Currently, President William Ruto uses the presidential jet, Fokker 70 Extended Range (ER) KAF 308.
