The mother and father of pilot Alex Oluka who perished in an aircraft crash in Kajiado / ScreengrabA family in Moding village, Teso North, is mourning the death of Alex Oluka, a flight instructor who died in an aircraft crash in Kajiado on Friday.
Oluka, who had graduated as a pilot only a few months before the crash, was described by his family and residents as a diligent and hard-working young man who had become a source of hope for his family.
His death has left his family and residents of Moding village with a deep sense of loss, with locals saying he was the first pilot from the community.
Oluka’s mother, Everlyn Inait, said her son had always been determined to help the family and had taken responsibility for supporting his younger siblings.
“Alex was my son; he was a nice person to me, and he has always wanted to help me, but God has taken him. I now ask your help to assist in taking care of the remaining children; help me because of Alex. He took his siblings as his own and took care of them,” Inait said.
She said she had spoken to Oluka on Thursday, a day before the crash, and was shocked when she learnt of his death.
Inait recalled the sacrifices she made to educate her son, saying she used to work on other people's farms to raise money for his school fees.
“He spoke to me on Thursday before hearing that he was involved in a crash on Friday, and I was shocked. I was tilling other people’s land to pay his school fees, and he used to encourage me, Mum, just till the land because I want to study, and I kept on with the work,” she said.
Oluka had also become a source of hope for his younger siblings, who were relying on him to support their education.
His father, Leonard Otolim, said Oluka had promised to ensure that the education of his younger siblings would not be interrupted.
“Alex had small twin siblings in grades 7 and 8. They were hopeful that Alex would support them in their studies; he had promised that their education would never be a problem as long as he was around, but now he is no more,” Otolim said.
Residents said Oluka’s achievement of becoming a pilot had been a source of pride for the community, as he was the first pilot from Moding village.
His death has not only left his family grieving but has also robbed the community of a young man they viewed as a symbol of possibility and hope.
Oluka who wasPr the teacher and a student, died after a small aircraft crashed during what was described as a routine training exercise in Kipeto, Kajiado County.
The incident happened on Friday, September 18.
Kajiado West Police Commander Maureen Kuto confirmed the accident, saying the aircraft had two people on board when it crashed in the Kipeto area near a wind power plant.
Kuto said the student died at the scene, while the teacher died from injuries while being rushed to Kajiado Referral Hospital for treatment.
“The first victim succumbed at the scene, while the second succumbed while being rushed to hospital,” she said.
Officials said preliminary reports indicated that poor visibility caused by heavy morning mist may have contributed to the crash.
