Flying coffins: Shame of outdated KDF planes as VIPs get priority

A year after a tragic plane crash claimed the life of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) chief, Gen Francis Ogolla, and nine others, the Kenya Air Force (KAF) is grappling with a troubling reality: a dwindling and outdated fleet.

Of over 130 aircraft acquired by the KDF over the years, only 27 remain operational. The rest have succumbed to crashes, maintenance issues, or obsolescence.

An audit of these aircraft reveals ageing machines plagued by frequent breakdowns, with a concerning misallocation of resources: of the 19 aircraft available to the KAF, only seven are dedicated to security operations, while 12 are reserved for VVIPs, raising questions about priorities.

KAF aircraft must first pass a series of rigorous trials by the Air Force Test Squadron, a specialised military unit within the KDF. This elite group of engineers, pilots and skilled personnel ensures each aircraft meets the required operational standards. Once certified, the plane is officially registered with the KAF and dispersed across various bases: Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, the primary fighter base, Wajir Air Base and Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi, which serves as the headquarters.

Other Forward Operating Bases are in Mombasa (Moi International Airport), Mandera, Manda and Nyeri, which accommodate helicopters and smaller aircraft.

“We are also facing challenges in Eastleigh because of tall buildings, which are coming up. We have had to move our larger aircraft, like the Spartans and the Presidential Jet, to JKIA,” a top official confided.

Yet, despite the certification rigour, outdated technology poses a risk to KDF personnel and the public alike, both within Kenya and in the countries where these aircraft operate.

Wear and tear

Officials from KDF and the Ministry of Defence, speaking to The Standard on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that their aircraft were too old to adequately serve the country, citing long flight hours and general wear and tear.

A review of records reveals a history of ageing equipment. In 1978, Kenya acquired 12 SA 330 Puma aircraft from Aerospatiale of France. These helicopters, purchased brand new, formed the backbone of the fleet for many years. Since then, eight have crashed, and two have been decommissioned due to old age and a lack of spare parts.

In March 2009, a Puma helicopter transporting President Mwai Kibaki was forced to abort its takeoff after its engine emitted smoke, a stark reminder of the fleet’s age. The incident occurred as the President was preparing to attend an event in the Kitutu Chache constituency.

Months later, in November 2009, another Puma helicopter, this time carrying the Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and his Devolution counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, had to divert to the Eldoret International Airport due to adverse weather conditions. Dr Matiang’i was heading to Kapenguria to assess areas in West Pokot affected by landslides. The helicopter, lacking the necessary equipment for flying in poor weather and low visibility, was forced to return to Eldoret for repairs.

A spot check confirmed that many of the aircraft in service are operating with outdated technology, endangering the lives of KDF personnel and the public in Kenya and beyond. These include President William Ruto’s aircraft, the Fokker 70 Extended Range, known as Harambee One when the President is on board. The plane arrived in Kenya on December 20, 1995, and also served Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.

VVIP configuration

The aircraft was manufactured in the Netherlands by Fokker Industries, according to KDF’s commemorative book “Kenya Air Force Story 1964-2014”.

The plane, which cost Sh2.9 billion according to media reports, was originally designed as a 70-seat regional airliner but was later modified to carry 26 passengers in a VVIP configuration. It was also equipped with security features, including anti-missile systems, and registered as KAF 308.

However, the manufacturing company collapsed on March 15, 1996, according to a report in The Washington Post on the same day, making it difficult for Kenya and other organisations to obtain spare parts.

“Fokker, crippled by debt and heavy losses, had been kept limping along by state-guaranteed bridge loans while it searched for a buyer,” reported the newspaper.

Fokker Chairman Ben van Schaik said: “This means the end of 77 years of aircraft history in the Netherlands.”

According to military officers and State House officials, the aircraft’s outdated technology and limited range restricts its flight range to approximately 3,078km before refuelling is necessary. This forces, for example, the President to make stops in Egypt en route to Europe.

In addition to Harambee One, the President also has access to three Agusta AW 139 helicopters, while his deputy has two Agusta helicopters, previously used by the police for surveillance. They were among the aircraft acquired for Sh4 billion but were transferred to the Deputy President’s office after the Kenya Kwanza government took power in 2022.

The helicopters were rebranded and repurposed by the KDF-controlled National Air Support Department (NASD), which was established on December 20, 2020, by President Uhuru Kenyatta. Designed as a multi-agency aviation unit, NASD centralises the management of all state-owned aircraft, aiming to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in public service delivery.

However, these helicopters frequently experience technical issues, forcing the DP’s office to lease or utilise other aircraft.

The KDF also acquired nine Fennec light attack helicopters from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for use in operations against Al Shabaab militants. UAE’s Army Aviation Brigade and Air Force Special Operations Command bought them in 2008 and sold them to Kenya 10 years later.

The then Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Raychelle Omamo, and the Kenya Air Force Commander, the late General Francis Ogolla (at that time a Major General), announced the delivery of the helicopters at the Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki on September 15, 2018. According to aviation websites, the aircraft were manufactured in France by Airbus Helicopters.

The Fennec is a versatile aircraft capable of anti-tank operations, air-to-air combat, ground support, utility transportation, and training missions. It can also be equipped with guns and rocket launchers.

Omamo stated that the helicopters would be used for combat support, search-and-rescue missions, medical evacuations, and escorting heavy-lift helicopters. However, the purchase price was not disclosed.

The event was attended by UAE ambassador to Kenya Khalid Khalifa Abdullah Rashid Al Mu’alla and Colonel Jamal Alhababi from UAE Joint Aviation Command, among others.

“In UAE service, the AS550C3 could carry the Turkish Roketsan Cirit laser-guided rocket, but it is not known whether this weapon has been supplied to Kenya,” the Times Airspace website reported in late 2018.

Since then, some of the Fennec aircraft have crashed while one is being used for VVIP transport, primarily for government ministers. “Worse is that you find the attack helicopters are also still being used to transport VVIPs,” a top protocol officer said.

On July 20 last year, one had an accident at the Chemolingot Primary School in Tiaty West, Baringo, while taking off for another event seven kilometres away. Several KDF personnel sustained minor injuries and were airlifted to Nairobi.

In September 19, 2023, several KDF soldiers died in another helicopter crash in Lamu County’s Boni Forest during Operation Amani Boni to flush out Al Shabaab militants.

In another incident on November 9, 2023, an AS 550 C3 Fennec, designated for attack purposes, crashed in Kisamis, Kajiado. Although the officers on board survived with minor injuries, the crash renewed public concerns regarding the safety of the KDF’s aircraft fleet.

In 2020, Kenya also acquired three new C-27J Spartan aircraft from Leonardo SpA in Italy, converting one into a VIP carrier. Former President Kenyatta used it for travel to Somalia and northern areas affected by insecurity. The others have been used to transport KDF troops across the region, including Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to airlift Kenyans from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Nairobi after they were stranded for three months due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. In addition, two C27J aircraft airlifted Kenyans from Paloich Airport, South Sudan, after the outbreak of civil war in 2023.

Special operations

“The Spartan are now down due to maintenance,” said a senior official from the Defence Ministry.

The force also operates three Dash 8 Q-103 aircraft exclusively for VIP transport. These were acquired from the former DeHavilland Aircraft Company of Canada in 1990.

In 2021, KAF received three Polish-made M28 Mielec aircraft from the US, which had been upgraded by the United States Special Operations Warfare Centre and designated as the C-145A Skytruck.

However, in February last year, photos appeared online from the official X account of the Lapsset project, showing one of the aircraft being used to transport Lapsset officials. The post was later deleted following criticism for the repurposing of equipment intended for Special Forces.

In 2016, Kenya acquired eight refurbished Hueys (manufactured in 1959) from the US for $52 million (Sh6.7 billion).

“The problem is that these aircraft are being remanufactured and brought into the country after serving in tough areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Some aircraft have served in the Vietnam War, and they are being dumped here,” a top official explained.

“The aircraft, now in the spotlight after Ogolla’s accident, have excessive vibrations from the engine, are underpowered and hence unsuitable for operations in hot and high environments, and have a low carrying capacity of just eight fully laden soldiers,” said a top ministry official.

Of the eight, four have crashed and the other were grounded following Ogolla’s death.

The KAF also operates 11 Tucano (manufactured by the defunct Shorts Brothers of Belfast), which have been a familiar sight at national celebrations  since 1983. The thirty-year-old aircraft are used for advanced training and attack.

“The aircraft have been used to entertain the late President Daniel Moi, his predecessor—Kibaki—as well as Uhuru. It is also still entertaining President William Ruto. It shows you that even some of the equipment in the military is old, just like the aircraft,” said a top state official, adding, “The main battle tanks are so old that they are completely unsuited to the modern-day battlefield.”

In 2021, Kenya acquired the Grob 120A for basic training and the Grob 120 TP, used for advanced training at the Aviation Centre of Excellence, opened in on April 7, 2022. Others used for training include six F-5F, five G120A, 11 G120TP, and 11 T51 Tucanos.

Other KDF aircraft include three Mi-171E helicopters acquired in 2010, but one crashed in Ruiru the following year. In June 2021, another crashed in Oltepesi, Kajiado, killing 10 soldiers. At the time, it was the worst helicopter crash in KAF history. In 2023, the sole remaining Mi 171E helicopter crashed in Buna, Wajir.

Kenya also has four special mission Cessna 208B Grand Caravans manufactured by Textron Aviation, three PZL M28s, 10 Y-12s, two AH-1Fs (which have been withdrawn from active service due to serviceability issues), three AW139s, nine H125M/AS550s (now unserviceable), and two Mi-171s (all have since crashed).

“The Y-12s are past their service life and should be retired. They have already exhausted their airframe lives,” said an officer.