The identities of two Kenya Defence Forces personnel who were Saturday killed in a plane crash in Kwale County have been revealed.
The incident happened at about midday, moments after the fixed-wing plane crashed in a village on June 14, 2025.
On board the plane was Maj Evander Ochieng
Amondi, who was the instructor and his student Lt DM Nzuva, officials said.
They were
under the KDF’s Aviation Centre of Excellence, and they both
died on the spot.
Maj
Amondi led a group of pilots in a fly-past event at the Madaraka Day
celebrations on June 1, 2025, in Homa Bay.
His colleagues
said he was a celebrated pilot and instructor.
He had trained dozens of KDF pilots before his demise, his colleagues said.
The aircraft belonged to the Kenya Air Force and was based in Mombasa for training purposes.
It crashed in Mafundani village after takeoff from Mombasa International Airport.
KDF said a Kenya Air Force Grob 120A aircraft experienced an emergency while on a training flight in the general area of Mwakijembe Primary School, Ndavaya, Kwale County.
The cause of the accident is yet to be known, those on the ground said.
Emergency response teams, including KAF crash
investigators, were swiftly deployed to the scene for search and recovery
operations.
Police arrived and secured the scene pending
investigations.
Another statement
from KDF on Sunday said a team of investigators had been sent to the area.
“With deep sadness, we confirm the passing of both pilots in the crash. Kenya Air Force has constituted and dispatched investigation teams to establish the cause of the air crash,” read part of the statement.
Such accidents involving military planes are common amid calls to replace the ageing fleet. The fleet has been partially blamed for the accidents.
KDF has been calling for enhanced budgets to
address the issue of replacing the fleet.
The military planes have been involved in a series of accidents, leaving dozens of personnel dead.
Causes of some of the accidents are yet to be revealed.
