Former Nyeri Governor Offers To Help Make Kenya A Global Aviation Hub
Amb. Samuel Wamathai. Photo/File
By Wilfred Muchire
Former Nyeri County Governor and seasoned aviation expert, Amb. Samuel Wamathai Githaiga is offering to make Kenya an Aviation Giant.
Amb. Wamathai has written to President William Ruto, offering his decades of experience to help transform Kenya into ap first-class international aviation hub.
In a detailed open letter, dated January 20,p Amb. Wamathai highlights a career spanning over four decades in civil aviation, both in Kenya and abroad, and outlines concrete steps he believes could propel the country to global aviation prominence.
“I plead with you for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve our Republic and transfer my extensive expertise in Civil Aviation to other Kenyans,” part of the letter states.
Accompanying the letter is a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae showing how his aviation credentials are unparalleled. A holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Air and Space Law from McGill University, Canada, Amb. Wamathai started his public service career in 1977 as an Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Transport.
By 1992, he had risen to Deputy Permanent Secretary in charge of Kenya’s Civil Aviation sector and served on the boards of Kenya Airways, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and the Kenya Airports Authority.
Between 1993 and 2002, he represented Kenya as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Montreal, Canada, where he oversaw the development and implementation of international aviation standards.
Later, as Deputy Regional Director at the UN Regional Civil Aviation Offices in Nairobi, he coordinated aviation policy and strategic management across 23 Eastern African countries.
In his letter, Amb. Githaiga is proposing the establishment of a world-class aviation training center in Nyeri, Kisumu, Eldoret, or North Eastern Kenya, offering university-level courses. He also recommended incorporating existing institutions such as the East African School of Flying, Kenya Airways Training School and the Wildlife School of Flying.
He further urges the creation of a dedicated ministry responsible for Civil Aviation, Meteorology, Tourism, and Bilateral Air Transport Negotiations.
He has also proposed formation of a team of top aviation experts to review and modernize Kenya’s civil aviation laws, last comprehensively updated in 1978.
The team would include former Kenya Airways Managing Directors, senior aviation lawyers and former KCAA executives.
Beyond his technical qualifications, Amb. Wamathai brings strong leadership experience.
He served as the pioneer Deputy Governor of Nyeri County in 2013 and later as Governor in 2017, playing a pivotal role in establishing county management structures that successfully anchored devolution.
Notably, he was part of a UN-led team that negotiated a major international airspace dispute involving the United States, Cuba, Ethiopia and Eritrea, showcasing his ability to navigate complex international aviation matters.
The open letter is copied to several leaders, including Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe and a number of MPs.
Amb. Wamathai’s proposals come as the Ruto administration seeks to develop Kenya into a regional aviation hub, a strategy expected to boost tourism, trade and economic growth.
With decades of experience and international recognition, he positions himself as a uniquely qualified leader to help realize this national vision.
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