Kenya’s Bramwel Bushuru is in charge of air traffic control on St Helena Island, an exclusive destination in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Speaking on Alex Chamwada’s Daring Abroad on Saturday, February 4, Bushuru intimated that he, his wife, and his son were the only three Kenyans on the island.
He revealed that he moved to the island in 2016 while working in South Africa after an opportunity presented itself during the 2010 World Cup.
“In 2010, South Africa needed air traffic controllers and so I joined the state-owned Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS). In 2016, ATNS got the contract to provide air traffic services to the St Helena government,” he explained.
Bushuru stated that when he first moved to the island, he was the only Kenyan on the island. This did not change until he invited his wife and son to the island in 2021.
“When I first got here, I started asking around if there were any Africans and if so, any Kenyan. I was told that there was a number who worked as teachers but left the island,” he disclosed.
Boasting 22 years of experience in the industry, he is now the officer in charge of air traffic control at St Helena Airport, the main airport on the island.
Bushuru disclosed that the island has a population of about 4,000 and is headed by Governor Nigel Philips who is assisted by Chief Minister Julie Thomas.
Despite being the only Kenyan on the island for six years, he carved out a name for himself among the locals. His personal and work attributes earned him a position in government.
“I am the Vice Chair of the Public Accounts Committee which includes three elected councillors (an equivalent of Members of Parliament) and two are appointed by the governor,” he clarified.
The Eldoret-born air traffic controller doubles as the captain of the Sagina Golf Club. He observed that life on the island was different from that in Kenya.
“The people are very friendly and warm, the systems are very simple and crime is unheard of. There are no estates reserved for the rich or poor and there is no room for segregation.,” the aviation manager confirmed.
He called on Kenyans to explore the Island as a tourist destination and a possible place of employment.
St Helena island is a British overseas territory located west of the southwestern coast of Africa with a population that is majorly of mixed European, South and East Asian, and African descent.
English is the only language spoken on the island that has only one town called Jamestown where about one-sixth of the island’s population resides.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE