Crew and passengers of Mwihoko Amref aircraft crash named

The identities of the four crew members aboard the AMREF Flying Doctors aircraft that crashed in Mwihoko have been officially released.

AMREF Flying Doctors confirmed that the victims of the crash were Captain Muthuka Munuve, Captain Brian Kimani Miaro, Dr Charles Mugo Njoroge and Nurse Jane Rispah Aluoch Omusula. 

The aircraft, Cessna Citation XLS (5Y-FDM), went down on Thursday shortly after departure from Wilson Airport, resulting in six fatalities, including those on board and others on the ground.

“This is an immense loss not just to the AMREF family, but to the entire nation,” AMREF Flying Doctors CEO Stephen Gitau said. 

“We honour the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to humanity. These were not just professionals; they were heroes.”

Gitau said Captain Muthuka Munuve brought nearly seven years of experience as a captain and check pilot on both the Cessna Citation XLS and the Pilatus PC-12, accumulating over 10,000 hours of flight time. 

Captain Brian Kimani Miaro was an instructor on the PC-12 and was in the process of becoming a check pilot, with more than 5,800 flight hours to his name.

“Dr Charles Mugo Njoroge served for more than seven and a half years as a dedicated medical doctor, while Nurse Jane Rispah Aluoch Omusula served as an emergency flight nurse for four years and eight months,” Gitau said. 

He added that all four parts of a mission are rooted in service and compassion, their roles critical in delivering lifesaving care across the country and beyond.

The crash, which occurred on the anniversary of AMREF's founding in 1957, also caused significant disruption and trauma within the Mwihoko community. 

AMREF, in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross, has since provided displaced families with essential supplies and psychosocial support.

“Over the past 24 hours, our crisis teams have been in close contact with the families of our fallen colleagues... offering emotional, psychological and logistical support,” Gitau said.

Efforts to investigate the cause of the crash are ongoing. 

The aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) have been recovered, although some parts of the FDR remain missing. 

Gitau stated that authorities are working with the local community to locate the remaining components, appealing to residents for assistance.

The organisation reiterated its commitment to transparency and support for the affected families, noting that crisis teams have met with seven families, including those of community members impacted by the crash.

As the investigation continues, AMREF Flying Doctors has pledged to honour the memory of its fallen crew not only through remembrance but through continued service, upholding the values of courage, compassion and integrity that defined their work.

“As we mourn, we also recommit ourselves to honouring the legacy of our fallen heroes not just with words, but with action,” Gitau said.

“Their mission will not end here."