Spectacular air show as Kenya marks 100 years of aviation

Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu and Transport and Infrastructure Principal Secretary John Musonik joined hundreds of aviation enthusiasts and locals to celebrate 100 years since the first flight in East Africa took off at Maktau in Taita Taveta County on October 4, 1915.

Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu (left) joins Rose Plastic as they dance to the tune of a Taita song during celebrations to mark the first flight in East Africa in Maktau. On the right is British High Commission Warrant Officer One Justin Hollands.(PHOTO: GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD)

Locals were treated to a rare display of air shows by both fixed wing planes and gyrocopter planes during the Saturday celebrations. The planes took off from the Sarova Taita Hills Lodge airstrip, located about 7km from Maktau and made air manoeuvres as they flew over the Old Maktau Railway Station grounds.