Residents of Magomano village in Kiambu have been flocking to a homestead for a glimpse of a homemade helicopter which has been assembled by a 20 year-old farm hand.
Onesmus Mwangi started assembling the ‘helicopter’ seven months ago and has so far spent about Sh57, 000 which he started saving through Mpesa.
Mwangi says he was been paid Sh2,500 by his 82-year-old boss Esther Wanjeri Kibuja Musa for the past one and a half years.
“I was being paid Sh2, 500 before my boss topped my salary to Sh3000 this year. Out of the proceeds, I could save all the money because I didn’t have expenses for I eat and drink here,” said Mwangi.
Mwangi said he has been buying plain sheets, boltsm filler, paint and sponge for fitting from a local supermarket.
“I bought metal bars and plastics locally and I have put an old chuff-cutter which mills animal feeds as the engine and propeller to move the wings.
The chopper weighs 25 kilograms."The sheets are aluminum. I attempted to fly the chopper last week but it refused,” Mwangi said.
A standard six dropout of Kianjogu Primary in Nyandarua, Mwangi said his "intelligence" tells him the chopper can only fly about six feet since he has not finished assembling. “It can only fly six feet for now because I have not put a synchroniser pin which costs Sh5, 000,” said Mwangi.
“If the government can educate me in engineering, I can come up with more innovations like a fast moving ship and more cohesive chopper than this one. Professionals should see whether they can improve on it.”
But Mwangi is not a happy man after the chopper was taken away from the home and kept at the district headquarters in Githunguri for security reasons.
Area AP commandant Thomas Mureithi said they took the move to ensure officers from the aviation sector verify whether it is fit for flying.
“The boy is brainy and the chopper seems good, but people have been going there and the risk is if he flies the chopper and an accident occurs,” said Muriithi.
“We are waiting for the aviation department to give the way forward before we know whether its okay for the young man to fly,” Muriithi said.
Her employer said she does not know Mwangi’s home after she met him as he looked for a job and employed him as a farm hand boy.
“I did not know he was so bright until he told me he is building a chopper. He could embark on the job after finishing milking the cows until late into the night when he could retire to bed. The security light he uses is self innovated,” she said.
Among leaders who have visited Mwangi is Kiambu governor William Kabogo who has promised to assist.
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