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The aviation sector in Africa has expansive opportunities and vacancies that remain unfilled and more students should explore this field, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said.

Murkomen made the remarks as he cited a recent International Air Transport Association (IATA) report, which stated that Africa requires 55,000 skilled aviation professionals in the next two decades, including 15,000 pilots, 17,000 technicians, and 23,000 cabin crew.

He said this raises questions on how the country can benefit from these opportunities and what is required to establish dominance in the continent’s aviation sector and export talent and skills to the continental and global markets.

The CS made the remarks on Wednesday when he presided over the handing over ceremony of a decommissioned Kenya Airways (KQ) aircraft to Mangu High School.

“One of the ways of doing this is by encouraging creation of incubators for innovation and talent development. We need to encourage corporate social responsibility initiatives such as this that will empower our students and bequeath to them the tactical, technical and technological know-how that will give them an edge over their peers,” he said.

Murkomen said the donation of the aircraft, Boeing B737-700, is part of supporting Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), which focuses on accentuating students’ interests in particular areas of study, harnessing their innate talents, and converting their passions into careers.

He urged Mang’u High students to utilize the aircraft to not only sharpen their skills but also grow their passion and interest in aviation.

“The donation of this aircraft is an act of nobility and an affirmation of KQ’s support for CBC. I thank Kenya Airways for this commendable act of corporate social responsibility that will inspire hope in students of Mang’u High School, assist in the modelling of their skills and transform abstract theories into practicable concepts,” Murkomen said.

The CS also said the KQ’s initiative underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing the Government’s education and aviation reforms and ensuring that the young people have access to the requisite tools and opportunities necessary for the creation of successful careers.

“I am happy with Kenya Airways for setting itself apart as the pioneer in talent development and innovation and as a champion of sustainable air travel. Beyond its flight and cargo operations, KQ has an active aviation hub, known as Fahari Innovation Hub that acts as a springboard for new ideas and data-driven innovations,” Murkomen stated.

The hub is part of encouraging young people to develop impact-driven solutions that address societal and business challenges and contribute to sustainable development by co-creating innovative ideas in partnership with local start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) ecosystem.

“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,” he added.

Murkomen on KQ aviation school

He said Kenya Airways also has an approved aviation school, known as the Pride Centre that offers a range of courses to prepare candidates for a successful career in the aviation sector.

“The airline was the first in the continent to operate a sustainable aviation fuel-powered flight which included sustainable flight and ground operations, a sustainably curated in-flight menu, a customer carbon offsetting program, e-mobility for guests, travel light policies, and waste management initiatives, thus making them a trendsetter in sustainable air travel,” the CS explained.