KAJIADO, Kenya – Two people have died after a light aircraft crashed in the Kipeto area of Kajiado County on Friday, September 18, 2026.
The aircraft, operated by the Kenya Aviation Training School, crashed near the Kipeto Wind Power Project while on a routine training flight, according to preliminary reports.
Kajiado West Sub-County Police Commander Maurine Jepkemboi confirmed the deaths, saying the aircraft went down in a hilly area of Kipeto.
Two people killed in crash
The two people on board were a student pilot and a flight instructor.
Initial reports from the scene had indicated that at least one person may have died, with the exact number of occupants initially unclear. Later reporting confirmed that two people were aboard the aircraft and both died in the crash.
The circumstances that led to the aircraft going down had not been established at the time of publication.
Aircraft crashes near Kipeto wind farm
The aircraft came down near the Kipeto Wind Power Project, a 100MW wind farm in Kajiado County operated by Kipeto Energy PLC. The facility has 60 wind turbines and supplies electricity to Kenya’s national grid.
Images circulating from the scene showed extensive damage to the aircraft, with debris scattered across an open, grassy area.
Emergency responders and security officers were seen around the wreckage as authorities assessed the crash site.
Wreckage scattered across field
Photographs from the scene showed pieces of the aircraft spread across the surrounding grassland, alongside luggage and other debris.
Several people, including emergency personnel wearing high-visibility jackets and others in protective clothing, were seen examining the wreckage.
The extent of the damage indicated the severity of the impact, although the precise circumstances of the crash remained under investigation.
Investigation expected to establish cause
Authorities are expected to begin investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the aircraft’s flight path, condition and events leading up to the accident.
Kenya’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) is responsible for investigating aircraft accidents and incidents. Under Kenya’s aviation regulations, accident investigators control the recovery of aircraft and wreckage during an investigation.
The cause of Friday’s crash had not been established at the time of publication.
More details awaited
The incident adds to a series of aircraft accidents and incidents that have prompted investigations by Kenyan aviation authorities.
Further details, including the identities of the victims, aircraft registration and the circumstances immediately preceding the crash, are expected as authorities continue their investigation.
More to follow…
