RUIRU, Kenya – 7 August 2025
A small aircraft crashed into a cluster of residential buildings in the Mwihoko area of Ruiru, Kiambu County, early Thursday morning, leaving several people feared dead.
The aircraft came down near Githurai 45, a densely populated area on the outskirts of Nairobi, around 3:30 am local time. Witnesses said they heard a loud bang followed by smoke and screams from nearby homes.
“It shook the whole neighbourhood,” said Mary Nduta, a resident who lives just two blocks from the crash site. “I thought it was an explosion. We ran out and saw fire and people shouting for help.”
A joint response team made up of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers, National Police Service officers, and emergency medics was quickly deployed to the scene. Firefighters battled the blaze as rescuers searched through rubble.
Details about the number of casualties remain unclear. However, police on the ground said that both passengers on the aircraft and residents in the buildings may have been killed or seriously injured.
“We are treating this as a serious incident. The area has been cordoned off for rescue and recovery,” said a senior police officer, who requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly.
Authorities have not released the type of aircraft involved or its intended flight path. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) is expected to launch a full investigation into the cause of the crash.
Residents were asked to stay away from the site to allow emergency crews to operate safely. The government has not yet issued an official statement.
This incident comes just days after President William Ruto expressed condolences to Ghana over a separate aviation tragedy that killed two ministers in a helicopter crash.
More information will be provided as the situation develops.
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