Death Traps: The Dire Condition of Kenya’s Police Choppers

An audit by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has found that only two of the National Police Service Air Wing’s 11 aircraft are operational, with the rest grounded due to prolonged neglect and inadequate maintenance.

The report, released at the National Police Leadership Academy in Nairobi, describes a fleet that has deteriorated steadily over the past decade. Several aircraft are now little more than empty shells, having remained out of service for years. 

According to the audit, the collapse of the unit’s capabilities has weakened national security operations, reduced cost-efficiency, and left police units vulnerable during emergencies. The Air Wing, based at Wilson Airport, was created to provide aerial support for law enforcement and government agencies, including casualty evacuation, crime deterrence patrols, and rapid deployment during crises. 

However, persistent underfunding, administrative lapses, and ageing equipment have severely limited its ability to operate. Although the service acquired two Bell AB206 helicopters in 2017, bringing the fleet to 11, most aircraft have since been grounded. The few still flying are ageing Mi-17 utility helicopters purchased in 2017 and now considered unsafe without a full overhaul.

Safety concerns have intensified following recent incidents. On 3 November, a Mi-17 conducting rescue operations in Chesongoch, Marakwet East, made a hard landing after reportedly losing lift. No lives were lost, but the mishap, widely shared online, renewed scrutiny of the fleet’s airworthiness. 

The same helicopter has recorded multiple emergencies, including an emergency landing in Bomet County in August and a crash-landing at Wilson Airport in 2019. Other serious accidents over the years include the 2012 crash in Ngong Forest that killed Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and Deputy Minister Joshua Orwa Ojode, the 2016 crash of an Augusta AW139 in Nairobi, and the 2018 downing of a Mi-17 in Boni Forest.

Senior officials have presented a more optimistic outlook. In April 2025, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority certified the Air Wing as an Approved Aircraft Maintenance Organisation, a development hailed as a sign of progress. Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Lagat described the certification as historic, while Air Wing Commandant Captain James Kabo said the unit aimed to become a regional leader in aviation standards. 

However, the audit findings and recent incidents have cast doubt on these assurances. Aviation expert David Mwangi has cautioned that even the two operational helicopters pose serious safety risks and called for a comprehensive overhaul.

The Air Wing’s difficulties follow years of structural and administrative challenges. In 2017, the unit was placed under the Kenya Defence Forces-led National Air Support Department in an effort to improve management. It was returned to police control in 2024, but its core problems remain. 

A 2023 review led by retired Chief Justice David Maraga had already urged urgent modernisation, describing the Air Wing as a critical national asset whose operational reliability must be restored.