Irene Koki Mutungi facts for kids

Irene Koki Mutungi, often called Koki Mutungi, is an amazing pilot from Kenya. She made history by becoming the first woman in all of Africa to be a Captain of the incredible Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" airplane! She flies for Kenya Airways, which is Kenya's main airline.

Early Life and Education

Koki Mutungi was born in Kenya in 1976. Her father was also a pilot for Kenya Airways. Watching him fly inspired her from a very young age.

After finishing high school in 1992, when she was 17, Koki started flight school. She trained at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. There, she earned her first pilot's license, called a Private Pilot's License.

She then went to the United States to continue her pilot training. In Oklahoma City, she earned her Commercial Pilot's License. This license allows someone to fly airplanes for a living.

Amazing Career Highlights

In 1995, Koki returned to Kenya. She was hired by Kenya Airways and became their very first female pilot! For six years, she was the only woman pilot at the airline.

In 2004, she made history again. Koki became the first African woman to qualify as a Captain of a commercial airplane. This meant she could command a Boeing 737 aircraft. Later, she also qualified to command the larger Boeing 767.

Her biggest achievement came when she trained to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This is a very advanced airplane. In 2014, Kenya Airways promoted her to Captain of the B787. This made her the first African woman in the world to be a Boeing 787 Captain!

Inspiration and Achievements

Koki Mutungi's dream of becoming a pilot started when she was just five years old. She loved watching her father, who was a pilot for Kenya Airways.

Captain Mutungi is also a mother to one son. She truly loves flying and enjoys helping other people, especially young women who want to become pilots.

In September 2014, Kenya Airways had 39 female pilots out of 530. Captain Mutungi was the main pilot for the B787 flight from Nairobi to Paris.

In December 2014, Forbes Magazine recognized her achievements. They named her one of "The 20 Youngest Power Women In Africa 2014." This shows how inspiring and successful she is!

See also

Here are some other inspiring female pilots:

• Neema Swai
• Annabel Vundla
• Geraldine Waruguru
• Vanita Kayiwa
• Esther Mbabazi
• Aluel James Bol