Meet 26-Year-Old Assistant Commissioner Who Is A Trained Pilot

Out of 859 new Assistant County Commissioners commissioned by Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang'i in October 2021, one name arguably stood out from the rest. 

Meet Kimberley Champagne, a 26-year-old serving as the Laikipia County Assistant Commissioner who coincidentally is a pilot by training and plays the violin.

She grew up as an only child with her parents noticing her keen interest in aviation from an early age. Specifically, she recalled how she would recite the whole fleet of the national carrier, Kenya Airways, which currently has 38 aircraft flying to 53 destinations.

Kimberley Champagne posing for a photo in her uniform. /FACEBOOK.KIMBERLEY CHAMPAGNE

"I am reminded of how I would recite the entire Kenya Airways fleet growing up," she revealed in an interview with The Standard.

At Juja Preparatory and Senior School, where she went for her high school studies, she participated in a holiday programme that allowed high school students to learn aviation. Unfortunately, the teacher who had facilitated the programme passed on, an eventuality that cut her dreams short.

She then enrolled at the United States International University-Africa (USIU) for a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations (IR), and after she graduated, she reignited her aviation dream, expressing that she is working hard to complete her license, no matter how long it takes.

Other than aviation, she is also passionate about community work and was fortunate enough to be chosen as an Assistant County Commissioner, who is employed by the Public Service Commission (PSC). They are appointed on a 3-year contract that is renewable subject to satisfactory performance.

This is the entry and training grade for the national government administrative officers cadre. Officers at this level work under the guidance and supervision of a senior officer who is also answerable to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government.

Prior to her stint at the ACC, she served as an intern at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and featured as a violinist at the Kenya National Youth Orchestra. Her skills notably featured on Sauti Sol's 2015 hit song Nerea.

Roles & Responsibilities Of Assistant County Commissioners

• Carrying out general administrative duties.
• Overseeing implementation of national government development projects in the area of jurisdiction.
• Initiation of peacebuilding initiatives.
• Coordinating disaster management.
• Coordinating the maintenance of law and order.
• General office administration.
• Organise peace meetings and coordinate government functions.
• Identifying persons for national and civil registration.
• Coordinating campaigns against drug, alcohol and substance abuse.
• Ensure security of government property, assets, inventory and facilities.
• Compile returns, daily operations and incident reports.
• Assist in handling general public complaints.

Assistant County Commissioner Salary In Kenya

Assistant County Commissioners are paid between Ksh 30,170 and Ksh 40,060 per month exclusive of allowances. That is broken down into: 

1. Salary Scale: Ksh30,170 – 40,060 p.m. (CSG – 11)
2. House Allowance: Ksh4,200 – 10,000 p.m (depending on duty station)
3. Commuter Allowance: Ksh4,000 p.m
4. Leave Allowance: Ksh4,000 (once yearly)
5. Medical Cover: As provided by the government
6. Terms of Service: Three (3) years Contract (Renewable subject to satisfactory performance)

"My background in aviation is an advantage that allows me to have a seat at the table in discussing policies that affect the aviation industry directly," she added.

As a woman in aviation, she is proud to be a part of Girls in Aviation Africa (GIAA), which exposes and mentors young African girls in the world of aviation, one which was largely dominated by men for years due to its complexities in operating an aircraft, mostly in flight.

In Kenya, attaining a pilot licence requires the interested person to attend special schools where they are taught the craft of flying. According to data from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), there are only 24 institutions in the country that are authorised to offer aviation courses. 

Some of the schools offer their courses for a period of four to six months with the fee ranging from Ksh630,000 to Ksh2.8 million. The prices mainly cover flying hours, course work and pilot kits which include the uniform.

A Kenya Airways plane taking off from Amsterdam's Schipol Airport. /YOUTUBE

In the event Champagne completes her license, she could scale up the ranks and become just like First Officer Louisa Imbuga, daughter to the late Betrayal in the City author, Francis Imbuga as well as Captain Ruth Karauri, whose landing skills at London's Heathrow Airport in the middle of a storm made headlines globally.

Captain Irene Koki Mutungi is Africa’s first black female captain of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. She is remembered for landing KQ’s fourth Dreamliner in Nairobi in August 2015, out of the nine it boasts of today.