The Kenyan police service has taken delivery of three new rotorcraft from Leonardo Helicopters, including two AW139s (5Y-PEU c/n 31804 and 5Y-DIG c/n 31777) and a single SW-4. The aircraft were inspected by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi after deliver on June 29, 2018.
One of the aircraft is configured for VIP operations and another is fitted with a surveillance camera. It is believed Kenya ordered the helicopters at a cost of KES 4 billion.
Matiangi said in 2013 the police had three grounded helicopters and now it will have 11 helicopters and two fixedwing aircraft. The Kenyan police had another AW139 in service (5Y-NPS), but this was destroyed in a crash in September 2016.
Another recent acquisition was a single Mi-17V-5 (5Y-DCI) delivered in March 2017.
Guy Martin
