Family proud of pilot who died in line of duty

Updated 15 hr(s) 10 min(s) ago

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By Ally Jamah
For two weeks now, the focus of many in Kenya and indeed around the world has been on the military troops fighting in Somalia to subdue irksome Al Shabaab militants.
Amid reports of the successful mission, on the evening of Sunday, October 16, there was a news item about an army helicopter heading to the frontline inside Somalia that had crashed several kilometres from the border after developing mechanical problems.

Major Kizito Nyamuhanga, the pilot of the ill-fated chopper that crashed in Liboi killing him and four military personnel [PHOTO AGNES RUBE/STANDARD]

The death of five military personnel hit many Kenyans hard but none was probably hit as hard as Robi Nyamuhanga, the wife of Major Kizito Nyamuhanga, the pilot of the ill-fated chopper, and her three children.
Robi, 35, lives with her three children in the family home in Kiserian, where she first heard the terrible news from distant border town of Liboi.
"I first heard media reports about the crash on Monday. Somehow, I thought my husband wasn’t involved. But when military officers came home that day, I knew at once the worst had happened," recalls the widow, suppressing tears.
Major Nyamuhanga, 39, had left home that Sunday morning and as he bade his wife and three children goodbye, he promised to call in the evening.
"We had very beautiful moments together as a family the previous evening and he kept telling me how I was the person he loved most in the world. We were one blissful family," says a tearful Robi.
She felt blessed to have such a loving husband. She had no inkling that those were the last moments she was to be with her husband.
Hours later, at 7:55pm, Nyamuhanga was no more after his plane crashed into the arid sands as he headed to war.
"The terrible news of the sudden demise of Kizito hit me like a bullet. It was like my whole world had been blown to pieces, leaving me empty and hollow me. I couldn’t imagine losing him so suddenly."
The cruel hand of death has denied the loving couple, whose love has been cemented in 14 years of happy marriage, the pleasure of ageing together.
The children can’t believe that their father is no more.
The eldest son, Brian, will be sitting his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in less than two weeks.
The second born, Alex, is in Standard Five, while the last born Mike, is in Standard Three.
Strong love
"The trauma on the children is just unspeakable. The love between them and their dad was so strong and so much. But through the grace of God, healing is gradually returning," said the mother.
In the depth of her pain, Robi is proud of her husband as he died in the line of duty, serving his country to keep 40 million Kenyans safe from external attacks.
"His death was not in vain. All Kenyans appreciate that he lost his life for their sake. It was a duty he had chosen and he paid the ultimate price for it, with his life. He did what he had to do," she said.
The late Nyamuhanga was also a medical doctor having studied Medicine at the University of Nairobi.
He joined the military immediately after his course and was taken up for pilot training.
Nyamuhanga’s father and mother, Lucas Wasike and Mary Waise, are also proud of their son.
"Kizito was an intelligent man and joined the military because he had a strong passion for it. He could have practiced successfully as a doctor, but he chose to join the military as a pilot to serve his country," says his father.
Nyamuhanga was the third born in a family of eight children.
"It is very painful for me. I loved my son with all my heart since he never forgot about us, his parents. He always did all he could to make us happy and meeting our needs. He was very resourceful. He helped the whole family live a good life," said the mother.
Since last week, the family home in Kiserian has been visited by many relatives and friends, who came to condole with the family.
"Kizito was a man of the people. He was humble and friendly. He had a clean heart and got along well with everyone. I can’t imagine how my life will be without him," said his widow.
Meanwhile, the military is expected to announce how the late pilot would be given his final rest.
But Kuria elders are still consulting on the place of burial.