High flying police pilot adds another feather in her cap

 As the first, and most senior woman police pilot, being admitted to the prestigious defence college is another feather in the cap of Eunice Anyango Dobby.

Ms Dobby, a commissioner of police and a professional pilot with a commercial pilot’s licence, is one of the senior officers drawn from the military and other government agencies, and their counterparts from other countries, going for the senior course.

“I am looking forward to proudly wear the badge of honour as a National Defence College (NDC) graduate and an alumnus with Master of Arts in International Studies. I refused to be ordinary and expect to serve the country even better after this course,” she says.

Ms Dobby joined the Kenya Police Training College, Kiganjo, in 1999. At the end of the training, she joined a special cadet training. That was the first time women were allowed to join the Police Airwing.

“I, however, had to wait for two years before joining the Oxford Aviation College in Texas, USA, to train as a pilot after a competitive selection process,” she says.

In 2003, she graduated with a private pilot and a commercial pilot licences, issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration. She then became the pioneer woman pilot in the disciplined services in East and Central Africa.

To enhance her skills, she has taken several advanced courses in aircraft type, emergency response and management.

Recognitions and promotions

“Being a police pilot has helped reshape my attitude and character, enhanced my knowledge and skills, including decision making,” she the pilot.

Through discipline and improving herself, she has earned several recognitions and promotions, moving from police constable to the rank of commissioner of police.

After sitting her secondary school exams, she was selected to join the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) for a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree. At the same time, she was recruited to join the police service.

Her elder sister and brother who had graduated from Egerton and Kenyatta universities, respectively, were still jobless. For her, it was a no-brainer – she opted for police training despite protests from friends and family.

She, however, later joined the University of Nairobi where she graduated with a degree in Commerce in 2008, and three years later, she graduated with an MBA from JKUAT.

“Today, I look back with a sense of accomplishment that indeed I made the right choice,” she says.

After getting back to the country as a professional pilot with instrument and multi-engine ratings in 2003, she was put in charge of flight operations at the Kenya Police Airwing.

In recognition of the service, she was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior during the 2018 Jamhuri Day celebration by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

International Studies

Upon completion of a course she was taking in May this year, she will be awarded a Master’s Degree in International Studies from the UoN and will also be authorised to append the title ‘NDC’ (K) after her name.

The NDC was accredited to UoN in 2002 to offer Diploma and Master of Arts degree in International Studies.

“The course aims at developing and improving our intellectual capacity on broader dimension of security issues,” says the pilot.

Ms Dobby, who was listed among the Top 40 under 40, says she continues to inspire students and conducts motivational talks.

“I’m also the secretary of the National Police Service Sports Committee and have been a member of the NPS First Aid Competitions Committee,” she says.

Ms Dobby recognises that her journey has not been without challenges but she has learnt how to overcome them.