Nairobi News

NewsWhat's Hot

Police Airwing receives brand new chopper


The National Police Service has received a brand new helicopter to boost its security and transport capacity across the country.

The Italian made Agustawestland A139 helicopter was received on Wednesday by the Internal Security Secretary Joseph Nkaissery at Wilson Airport from Italy’s ambassador to Kenya Mauro Massoni.

The high speed chopper has the capacity of airlifting eight VIPs and can fly to 1,000 kilometers without refueling, said Mr Nkaissery.

It has the capacity to fly at night, to stop mid-air, can assist in machine gun operations and can rescue people at sea, explained the Internal Security chief.

“Last year we made a pledge and committed to Kenyans that we would continue to modernize our national police service in terms of air mobility and today we are receiving a brand new helicopter, one of the best helicopters we can have in the market today,” said Mr Nkaissery.

The 15-seater helicopter took 10 months to be completed and according to Mr Nkaissery, “we are proud that we now have the capacity airlift some of our best Recce teams to anywhere in the country”.

“We continue to modernize our service. A month ago we received armored vehicles and we are in the process of receiving the anti-riot vehicles,” he said.

The Minister and top officials in the ministry were criticized last year during the Garissa University terrorist attack after it took too long for police to respond to the attack.

Mr Nkaissery said a chopper that was taken abroad for refurbishment will be received in the country in the next two weeks, while another chopper at the Airwing unit will also be flown abroad for repairs.