A Kenyan community has rallied around the family of Captain Alex Oluka, the young pilot who died in a training aircraft crash shortly after graduating and securing his first job, with well-wishers now funding and overseeing the construction of a permanent home for his parents in Kolait Village, Teso North.
Oluka had barely begun his career when the tragedy struck. On August 22, he graduated from the Kenya School of Flying, the culmination of years of sacrifice and study that had taken him from a rural background to the cockpit.
His academic journey began at Kolanya Boys High School, where he attained a Grade A Plain, a result that drew the attention of the Teso North NG-CDF, which contributed approximately KSh 10 million towards his pilot training.
Having graduated, he was taken on as a flight instructor, a role that placed him in the skies with a student when the aircraft went down, killing them both.
Teso Community Determined to Honour Alex Oluka’s Legacy
In the days that followed his death, residents of his village began making daily visits to the family home to offer condolences. When photographs of the home circulated online, Kenyans responded with donations, and an organised effort to construct a new house quickly took shape.
A spokesman at the site shared that the project involves a two-bedroom house, one of which is en-suite, built to comfortably accommodate the Oluka family.
“It’s been four days now and we are doing well, we hope to finish the house by Monday, all this is possible through the help of Kenyans who have been contributing and we hope they keep doing so,” he said.
He added that a tractor had been deployed to improve the road leading to the family’s compound, with plans to name the road after the late pilot as a lasting tribute.
“We welcome everyone to Captain Alex Oluka’s home, even in death, developments will happen in his name, his light will forever shine in this village even far after he is gone,” he said.
Community leader Kaunya was among those acknowledged for making the construction possible. A tentative date of October 2 or 3 has been floated for a commemorative event, though the family is yet to confirm officially.
How Kenyans Reacted Online
Akong Keng:
“Aki wachawi hii nyumba pia isikuwe Sababu tena ya mwingine. kindly spare the remaining souls, Ile uchungu hii family imepitia ni lesson itadumu for decades.”
Hum Phrey:
“I think after this Hon. Oku Kaunya anafaa atafutie one of the late Oluka’s brother or sister a job so that aendeleshe Nyota ya hio familia.”
Brian Makunda:
“Mbona tymu mum ako na shida hamuezi musaidia alex amefariki ndio munatoa usaidizy kwa wazazi wke inauma hao wazazi wke ata kama mnawajengea nyumba haiezi linganishwa na mwanao amelala.”
Namu Ke:
“Wakati huyu mtu alikua bado hai you never bothered about his parent mlikua mnangoja wakati afe ndo mfanye maendeleo kwa familia yake.” Eris Sæt: “Glad to be part of this, but please if you could provide updates on the contributions. That’s for accountability.”
