UAP Insurance paid Sh11 million to the family of a civilian killed in the aircraft accident.
Two Kenyan pilots held by South Sudanese rebels after their aircraft crash-landed last month were released after UAP Insurance paid $107,743 (Sh11 million) in compensation to the family of a civilian killed in the incident.
Foreign Affairs secretary Monica Juma on Tuesday received Captain Frank Njoroge and his co-pilot Kennedy Shamalla, who had been under the custody of the Akobo local authorities for the last six weeks, at the Wilson Airport.
“Today, I’m very relived and pleased to announce that the two Kenyan pilots... accompanied by the repatriation team have just arrived here in Nairobi,” Ms Juma said in a statement.
“The ministry would like to take this opportunity to thank the United Nations Mission in South Sudan for its cooperation and support in securing the extraction of the pilots from Akobo.”
Ms Juma, accompanied by families of the pilots and other government officials, rebuked the unfriendly and inhumane response of the rebels to what she described as “an unfortunate event”.
She called on Kenyans travelling abroad, especially to countries experiencing instability and unrest, to exercise extreme caution.
“Let me underscore that the lives, property and safety of every Kenyan abroad is a top government priority. We will continue to do everything possible to ensure that every Kenyan anywhere is safe.”
The rebels had demanded Sh20 million to free the pilots. They were flying South Sudanese aid workers last month when the plane developed mechanical problems and crash-landed.
The light aircraft, which had nine passengers, allegedly killed one civilian, five cows and destroyed other property including part of the airport’s perimeter fence and a house belonging to the rebels.
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