By Tony Mochama and Cyrus Ombati

The wreckage at the scene of the accident that killed 14 people including 5 MPs

Major David Macharia, the pilot of the ill-fated military plane that killed 14 people in Marsabit two weeks ago, had been on an all-night drinking spree at a popular Nairobi bar before take off, the Sunday Standard can reveal.

He left the Baricho Road night spot three hours before the flight.

According to sources at the bar, a jolly Macharia arrived at the club at about 6pm, just minutes to the kick-off of the football game between Manchester United and Arsenal that was being broadcast live on the club’s wide screen televisions.

The club is a choice venue, especially on Sunday afternoons and evenings, for Nairobi’s older crowd who like their Formula One and football action in the mature ambience of the club, partially owned by a key erstwhile ally of President Mwai Kibaki.

Macharia arrived at the club, complete with his Manchester United T-shirt, accompanied by an unidentified friend. They took up the far left bar stools at the counter and immediately ordered for drinks — a Pilsner beer for himself and a Tusker for his companion.

Throughout the game, which lasted for approximately 105 minutes, Macharia consumed three beers as Arsenal went down two-nil to their archrivals Manchester United. "Macharia was over the moon about the results," the deceased’s long-term friend, Jerry Kabira, himself a fanatic of the Chelsea Football Club told the Sunday Standard. "He was a die-hard Manchester (United) fan, and of course celebrated the results with a round (of drinks)."

Kabira and Macharia had been friends since 1999.

"We met at the mess of the Moi Air Base (MAB) in 1999 when Macharia was a captain," says Kabira. "I liked frequenting the mess because the beer prices were relatively reasonable." Like so many barroom acquaintances, the two gentlemen were soon fast friends bound by the "DoD friendship."

So, was the major a man who liked his beer? "I’d say David was a disciplined drinker," Kabira replies cautiously.

"We spoke at about 9pm," Kabira said, "and Macharia told me he had been promoted mid-last year from captain to major, and that his main duties were to fly airplanes and ferry the necessary Government officials. I congratulated him, both on his promotion and his team’s triumph, and returned to my place near the upper-stairs counter."

A few minutes to 11pm, Kabira left the bar, passing by the counter below to bid farewell to the pilot. "Major’s farewell words to me were that I should pass by MAB, where I hadn’t been in about a year, and catch up as we catch pints in a less noisy atmosphere."

A popular radio-personality — a presenter with a leading private radio station in Nairobi — saw the pilot and his friend between 12am and 4am, still drinking.

"He did not venture from that spot," the presenter says, "save to go to the gents. And all the while, he was being pewad (drinking)". A waiter who remembers the pilot because the major gave him a Sh500 tip at 5am, when he finally left the club, says: "Kweli Major alikuwa na furaha saa zile aliondoka hapa kwa sababu Man-U ilikuwa imeweka Arsenali. Major alikuwa mtu mzuri sana. (The Major was certainly in a good mood when he left, as Man-U had beat Arsenal. He was a good person)."

According to flight regulations, alcohol and flying are a deadly combination.
The regulations clearly state that no person may operate or attempt to operate an aircraft:
• within 8 hours of having consumed alcohol
• while under the influence of alcohol
• with a blood alcohol content of 0.04 per cent or greater, and
• while using any drug that adversely affects safety.

The human body takes about 12 hours to get rid of the intoxicating effects of alcohol intake.
In the Marsabit tragedy, less than three hours after taking his leave of the Nairobi bar, Maj Njoroge was flying a plane full of passengers.

Flying low, the pilot attempted to land but had to abort due to the heavy fog that blanketed Marsabit hills. The pilot once again circled the hill in the invisibility of the fog, looking for the elusive airstrip.

It was then that Flight I-32, model Y-12 of the Air Force, carrying Assistant minister and Nakuru Town MP Mirugi Kariuki, and MPs Bonaya Godana (North Horr), Guracha Galgalo ((Moyale), Titus Ngoyoni (Laisamis), Abdi Sasura (Saku) and others crashed against the side of a hill, broke in half, hit the ground and burst into flames, claiming the lives of 14 Kenyans on a mission of peace.

Maj Macharia was one of the most celebrated pilots the Kenya Air Force had had.
Chief of General Staff Gen Jeremiah Kianga described Macharia last week as a patriotic and brave officer who did his work without much supervision.

The Department of Defence headquarters said Macharia had visited Marsabit on several occasions on official duties and was well versed with the geographical terrain.
DoD added that Macharia had also handled more challenging missions elsewhere locally and was to fly for a peacekeeping mission in West Africa.

"He had handled more challenging missions than the Marsabit one. It is unfortunate the plane crashed before landing," said military spokesman Bogita Ongeri.
A colleague at MAB recalled arguing with Macharia on what he would do in case of bad weather.
The pilot said they agreed that Macharia would fly back if landing in Marsabit was impossible.
"We argued and agreed that he would return in case of bad weather. I do not know what happened with him," said the pilot.

Macharia had flown more than 2,000 hours, which experts say are enough for one to be called experienced. Said one: "The number of hours that Macharia had accumulated in his profession shows that he had enough experience to pilot even a bigger plane."

His wife, Caroline Mwende Macharia, described him as a brave man who loved his job.
Mwende said her husband was a football fan and he was jovial the previous night when he returned home after watching a match.

"Macharia was a Manchester United fan and he was high and happy that the team had won against Arsenal when he came back home the day before the plane crash," she said.

Source: Standard, April 23, 2006