Team formed to probe aircraft accidents in South Sudan and Somalia over five years
This decision was announced in a gazette notice dated May 17, 2025, by the Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir.
The government has appointed an Aircraft Accident Investigation Team to review preliminary reports of aircraft accidents involving Kenyan-registered or operated aircraft in South Sudan and Somalia over the past five years.
This decision was announced in a gazette notice dated May 17, 2025, by the Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir.
The team was formed under the powers granted by Section 53(4) of the Civil Aviation Act (Cap. 394).
The team will be chaired by Captain Peter Maranga, with Fredrick Kabunge as co-chairperson and Engineer Fredrick Aggrey Opot serving as vice-chairperson.
Other members appointed to the team include Captain Nduati Herman Njama, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Mike Mulwa, Ephantus Kamau, Captain Valentine Wendoh, and James Mwangi. The joint secretaries are Brenda Mwango, Mathias Ombasa, and Albert Mwangeka.
According to the gazette notice, the team’s main responsibility is to "review all the preliminary accident reports for accidents involving Kenyan registered or operated aircraft presented by the Republic of South Sudan and the Federal Republic of Somalia, for the last five years."
In carrying out this task, the team is also authorized to investigate any other matters relating to or resulting from these accidents and to make suitable recommendations aimed at preventing such accidents from happening again.
Furthermore, the team has the power to examine, evaluate, analyze, or test any information, data, material, or substance needed to confirm any conclusions or assumptions made in the submitted accident reports.
They are also allowed to conduct interviews and engage with relevant players in the aviation industry to establish facts and gather additional information that will help fulfill their mandate.
The notice also permits the team to co-opt additional persons when necessary to support their work.
The appointed team will serve a term of three months starting from the date of the notice's publication.
However, the Cabinet Secretary retains the authority to extend the team’s term if more time is needed to complete their work.
Once their review is complete, the team is expected to submit a comprehensive report to the Cabinet Secretary.
This report will include their findings and recommendations designed "to address any safety issues that may be identified out of the findings for action by the aviation industry in Kenya."
