Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called on aviation sector players to enhance their investments towards expanding the industry skills pool.
Murkomen made the remarks during the handing over of a decommissioned Boeing 737-700 plane to Mang’u High School by Kenya Airways to enhance the school’s aviation learning.
According to the CS, the sector still boasts a wide range of opportunities that demand skilled manpower.
“The aviation sector in Africa has expansive opportunities and vacancies that remain unfilled. One of the ways of supporting the sector is by encouraging the creation of incubators for innovation and talent development,”” said Murkomen.
This initiative aligns with the Government’s Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda that seeks to involve the youth and MSMEs in inventing solutions to existential challenges and devising custom-made innovations to support ongoing efforts to combat climate change.
Through the initiative, KQ targets to increase competent, skilled, and competitive talents to fill the existing vacancies in the aviation sector and position Kenya as a hub for aviation skills and talents.
“We believe in the transformative power of education and the boundless potential of our youth. This Boeing B737-700 aircraft donation is true to our commitment to nurturing talent and driving economic growth, not only in Kenya but also on the broader African continent. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the profound impact this initiative will have on Mangu High School,” added Allan Kilavuka, KQ Chief Executive Officer.
The school also received a Ksh 5 million from KCB Group to equip the school with aircraft learning equipment such as flight simulators and aircraft maintenance tools, providing students with hands-on experience and preparing the next generation of aviators.
“Through this sponsorship, our goal is to inspire students to take up a career in the aviation sector with a long-term goal of mainstreaming it in our curriculum,” said Rosalind Gichuru, KCB Group Director for Marketing and Communications.
The aircraft, which has been decommissioned from service, will be painted by Kenya Airways in partnership with Crown Paints before being officially delivered to the school.
“We believe that a fresh coat of paint can go a long way in creating a positive and inspiring learning environment for students”, added Crown Paints Kenya Group CEO Rakesh Rao.
The B737-700 aircraft was constructed in 2003 and has a sitting capacity of over 100 people.
