Labour Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua has shared how a childhood fascination with planes eventually led him to become a licensed pilot while pursuing his career in public service.
Mutua said his interest in flying began as a young boy in Riruta Satellite, Nairobi, where he spent time watching planes fly overhead.
In a video sharing his flying journey, the Cabinet Secretary recalled how, at the age of nine, he began dreaming of one day flying an aircraft himself rather than traveling in one as a passenger.
His interest grew after his class at Toi Primary School visited Wilson Airport, where the pupils toured aircraft and saw the cockpit and engines.
CS Alfred Mutua said the experience left a lasting impression on him and strengthened his desire to become a pilot.
Childhood Dream Takes Shape
As a young student, Mutua said he continued reading about aviation and the history of flight.
He recalled visiting the Kenya National Library in Nairobi on weekends, where he came across a picture book that explored the history of aviation, including the development of aircraft from the Wright brothers to modern jets.
“The book followed the history of the magic of flight, from the Wright brothers to current jets. I was hooked,” Mutua said.
His interest in aviation continued even after he moved to the United States on a scholarship.
While pursuing his communication career, Mutua said he took a job at an airport in Spokane, Washington, which let him stay close to aircraft and pilots.
However, he said family responsibilities, his career, and the cost of flying meant that the dream had to wait for several years.
“Many years later, life happened: family, children, career, no time, not enough money,” he said.
Alfred Mutua Starts Flying Lessons
Mutua eventually decided to pursue the dream in 2023. “I woke up one morning and decided to transform my dream into a reality,” he said.
He enrolled at Ninety Nine’s Flying School at Wilson Airport in Nairobi and began training while continuing with his other responsibilities.
The CS said the training required long hours of study and flying, with most evenings and weekends spent on the course.
Six months after starting his training, Mutua undertook his first solo flight in Malindi, flying an aircraft without an instructor.
A month later, after completing seven months of training, he was tested and passed the requirements for a Private Pilot License.
The achievement turned a childhood dream into reality.
CS Mutua Has More Than 300 Flying Hours
Mutua said his flying journey didn’t end after he obtained his license.
He has continued building his flying hours with Ninety Nine’s Flying School and Kenya Aeronautical College and has trained and flown on several aircraft in Kenya and South Africa.
“A few months later, seven months from the time I started my classes, I was tested, passed and received my Private Pilot License,” Mutua said.
“My dream as a young, poor boy had become a reality. I could now fly as a hobby.”
He now has more than 300 flying hours and said he flies whenever his schedule allows, often during weekends.
“Today, with over 300 hours, I fly whenever I can to different locations – which is basically every weekend,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary said he had recorded his flying experiences and planned to share them through a series of videos.
He encouraged young people with dreams to pursue them and not give up.
Mutua attributed his achievement to determination, planning, his faith, and the support he received from his family and friends, particularly his children.
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