Mang’u High School, one of the few public secondary schools in Kenya offering aviation studies, received a major boost Wednesday for its program through donations aimed at preparing the next generation of pilots in the country.
Kenya Airways donated a retired Boeing 737-700 aircraft to the school while KCB Bank gave KES 5 million during a ceremony attended by government and corporate officials, including Cabinet Secretary for Transport Kipchumba Murkomen.
The aircraft will be used for hands-on training of students pursuing the aviation course at Mang’u. Kenya Airways, in partnership with Crown Paints, will paint the plane before delivering it to the school.
“Investing in education is investing in our nation’s future, and Kenya Airways’ generous donation of this aircraft to Mang’u High School is a shining example of corporate social responsibility at its best,” Murkomen said.
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Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways Group CEO, said the company believes in the “transformative power of education” and the donation aligns with its commitment to nurturing talent in Kenya and Africa.
The funds from KCB will go toward purchasing flight simulators and aircraft maintenance tools for the students’ training. Rosalind Gichuru, KCB’s marketing director, said the bank remains committed to supporting youth skills development as a recipe for economic growth.
Mang’u High School Principal John Mwangi said the donations will help inspire students to take up aviation careers critical for the country’s economic development.
Government statistics show Kenya faces a shortage of more than 2,000 pilots and plans to train at least 800 annually over the next five years. Mang’u students undertake aviation studies at Wilson Airport and Moi Air Base in Nairobi.
