From watching planes in Riruta to flying them: Mutua shares how he became a pilot
Kenyan Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua shares his lifelong journey of becoming a pilot, from watching planes as a child to enrolling in flight school in 2023. Despite a successful career in politics and communications, he remained committed to fulfilling his childhood dream.
Why it matters
This human-interest story highlights the personal aspirations of a high-profile public official, offering a relatable narrative about perseverance and career pivots.
Labour CS Alfred Mutua/X For Alfred Mutua, the dream of flying began long before he ever sat in a cockpit.
As a young boy growing up in Riruta Satellite, Mutua said he would sit outside the wooden shack that was home to him, his parents and siblings and watch planes passing overhead.
He was nine years old when the fascination became a dream.
“One day, something stirred inside my nine-year-old skinny frame, and I wanted to fly one day - not as a passenger but as a pilot,” Mutua said in a post published on August 25.
The dream gained momentum after his class at Toi Primary School visited Wilson Airport. He recalled being shown around planes and getting an opportunity to see their interiors.
“I was mesmerised by the engines and the cockpit,” he said.
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