Becoming a pilot is a rewarding career. You get to travel the world and meet new people. It is also a very demanding job, particularly when combined with a university degree.

Captain Lucas Njeru, the eldest in a family of 6, aspired to become a medical doctor. However, fate had other plans for him, and his life would revolve around touring the world and soaring in the skies.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Captain Njeru boasts over 17,000 flight hours of experience. This is a remarkable achievement for the Bachelor of Commerce student at UoN and PhD holder in Strategic Management.

“When he was doing his Master’s and PhD, I wondered how he managed. Our work can be demanding and you have little time to pursue other ventures,” one of his colleagues praised him.

“Him getting his PhD was no mean fete. He is also an instructor, which means more responsibility. I commend him.”

Captain Lucas Njeru killed two birds with one stone when he became the first pilot and PhD holder in his village. His magnificent career began when he was pursuing B.Com at the University of Nairobi.

During his second-year long holiday, a friend persuaded Captain Njeru to join him in the ongoing military recruitment at Nanyuki Stadium. When they arrived at the site, Njeru opted to remain at the entrance and wait for his friend.

“I knew I was just going to wait for him outside the gate,” he said.

However, passers-by asked him to try his luck in the auditions. He took the bull by its horns. Not only did he get through but he was also among the best recruits during his first day. He officially joined the Air Force in 1997.

While this news brought joy to his father, Captain Njeru’s mother was less excited, as she suspected that this was a ploy to avoid paying school fees.

“Years later, she would be my joyful passenger,” he said.

Njeru joined the Armed Forces Training College in Nakuru which operated in conjunction with Egerton University. Here, rules were rules.

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In contrast to the relaxed atmosphere in UoN that allowed people to miss classes, there was no tolerance for mischief. The rigorous physical drills took a toll on him, but he pushed himself even harder.

He emerged as the top student pilot upon completing his training and subsequently joined the Laikipia Air Base. In 2002, Captain Njeru furthered his education by pursuing a Diploma in Aviation Leadership.

This was at the Air Training Wing Columbus Air Force in Mississippi, USA. Afterwards, he spent some time with Kenya Air Force before transitioning to Kenya Airways in May 2007. He has worked there for the last 16 years.

Captain Lucas Njeru decided to return to school and completed his Bachelor’s degree. He steadily rose through the education ranks and eventually earned a PhD in Strategic Management.

Throughout his career as a pilot, Captain Njeru has encountered only three emergencies, all of which he managed proficiently. He maintains that being a pilot requires good coordination, a competent mind and the ability to make quick decisions.

The seasoned Kenyan pilot encourages young people to acquire skills in multiple fields as it would come in handy in their future.