Nairobi — 8 August 2025
A quiet afternoon turned into a nightmare on Thursday when a medical aircraft crashed into a home in Mwihoko, Kiambu County, killing six people and devastating a single mother who is now appealing to the public for help.
Mercy Nafula, whose teenage daughter was among those killed, described the tragedy with visible pain.
“She had just come from the salon,” she said quietly, her voice breaking. “She went home to cook lunch. That’s when it happened.”
The aircraft, a Cessna Citation XLS operated by the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), had taken off from Wilson Airport in Nairobi at 2:17 p.m. en route to Hargeisa, Somalia. It never made it out of the capital. Just minutes after departure, it lost both radio and radar contact with Air Traffic Control, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
Eyewitnesses in Mwihoko told reporters they saw the plane flying unusually low before it plunged into a residential building. Moments later, flames engulfed the house.
“I heard a loud bang, and by the time I ran out, there was smoke and fire everywhere,” said Peter Mwaura, a local resident who was among the first on the scene.
Videos shared online show uniformed personnel—believed to be from nearby military installations—assisting in efforts to control the blaze. Firefighters from Ruiru town also responded quickly, but the destruction had already taken a heavy toll.
According to Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula, the crash claimed six lives: four people onboard the aircraft—two crew members and two medical staff—and two civilians who were inside the house, including Nafula’s daughter.
“I’ve lost everything,” Nafula said, tears streaming down her face. “Not just my child, but our clothes, documents, and my small business stock. I have nothing left.”
She is now asking for assistance to cover funeral costs and rebuild her life.
“I am a single mum. I don’t know where to begin,” she added.
AMREF, in a statement released shortly after the crash, confirmed the plane belonged to its Flying Doctors service. The organisation said it is working closely with investigators and emergency teams to determine what went wrong.
KCAA Director-General Emile Arao said the agency’s Air Accident Investigation Department had launched a full probe in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and other security agencies.
As the investigation unfolds, the crash has raised broader questions about air safety and the risks of flying medical missions. Though AMREF has long been respected for its life-saving air services across East Africa, Thursday’s incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly tragedy can strike.
Meanwhile, in Mwihoko, a grieving family is left with little more than ashes and unanswered questions.
“I just want to give my daughter a dignified burial,” Nafula said. “And somehow, start again.”