Mang’u High School receives retired Boeing 737-700 as it celebrates 100 years

Kenya Airways has officially handed over its decommissioned Boeing 737-700 aircraft to Mang'u High School for study purposes.

This comes after three years of planning between the national carrier and the institution, as well as the efforts of Mang'u High School alumni.

The donated aircraft is expected to serve as a training resource for the school, hence enhancing its aviation lessons and providing students with a modern training platform.

During the flag-off ceremony at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Sunday, Kenya Airways Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Hellen Mathuka said that the historic donation to the school as it marks its century of excellence in education would inspire future generations.

“This aircraft, once soaring the skies, now begins a new chapter as a learning resource to inspire and equip future aviators, engineers and innovators,” Ms Mathuka said.

Leading the ceremony was Archbishop Philip Anyolo of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Mang’u Principal John Kuria, Nation Media Group Chairperson Wilfred Kiboro and Kasarani MP Captain Ronald Karauri.

Archbishop Anyolo encouraged the school to continue with its holistic transformation of students and praised Kenya Airways for its partnership.

He stated that the donation was in line with this year’s Catholic Church theme, which encourages people, communities, institutions and organisations to give and inspire hope, especially to those who need help.

“Kenya Airways has truly observed the invitation of the Holy Father by donating this aircraft to inspiring aviators of Mang’u High School,” Rev. Anyolo said.

Coincidentally, the retired plane was flown by Captain Karauri, who is also a graduate of Mang’u High School.

Aviation classes

The school's principal welcomed the move, saying it would promote aviation classes in the school and challenge more students to pursue aviation.

“This is an aircraft that is known worldwide and Mang’u is going to be the first school to receive such a donation from Kenya Airways. It is a milestone for our school and the community around Mang’u,” Mr Kuria said, stating that other schools will benefit from them as they visit the school for benchmarking.

This becomes the second aircraft to the institution after receiving the first donation from Wilson Airport, which the principal said is relatively smaller in size compared to the population of students.

The principal added that from the recent KCSE results which saw the school scoring a mean score of 10.01 points, the aircraft will encourage students in the aviation area to target higher grades.

The school recorded 107 straight As, 164 A-, 114 B+, 99 B, B- 71, C+ 23, C 21, C- 5, D+ 1, and D- 1.

Nation Media Group partnered with Kenya Airways, and Mang'u High School in the exercise that saw the event being broadcast across all its platforms.

“As the media partner for this event, we will make sure that we provide an inspiring story for the young men and women to aspire to greater things and heights and this aircraft will benefit thousands of students who would come to Mang’u High School in the future,” Dr Kiboro said.

Dr Kiboro lauded the partnership with the national carrier, adding that as the media, NMG will continue to tell nothing but the truth across all its platforms to transform lives.

“What we are doing at Nation Media Group is to transform the lives of people positively and we try to do that by telling the truth,” Dr Kiboro said.