Two Kenyan Medics Arrested in South Sudan for Fighting on a Flight

Police in South Sudan are holding two Kenyan medics for allegedly fighting while onboard a flight.

Nicholas Wamwangi (30) and Kelvin Kimani (29), both aid workers, are being held in remand in Aweil, the capital city of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal region.

Nation reports that the two exchanged blows while aboard a Kush Airline plane from Juba International Airport and were arrested upon landing at Aweil airstrip on March 12th.

“The two aid workers, believed to be gynecologists, were arrested on Saturday last week,” Captain Guot Guot Akol, the police spokesperson in Northern Bahr El Ghazal said.

“According to information from one of the passengers, they started fighting when the Kush Airlines plane left Juba until it landed in Aweil, and again, fought in front of police at the airstrip.”

It is not clear what triggered the fistfight between the two employees of Norwegian Church Aid (NCA). The incident caused panic among passengers on board the flight, with the crew reporting the matter to police and aviation authorities.

“We are yet to hear from the organization that sent them. But we have processed their documents and presented them to Interpol, which will now investigate the case in collaboration with our Immigration Department. However, on Wednesday, the chairman of Kenya Association came to us and he is following the case amicably,” Captain Akol added.

It has since emerged that the two Kenyans were intoxicated during the mid-air fistfight.

The Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), a Norwegian humanitarian and ecumenical organization with headquarters in Oslo, could not be reached for comment on the matter.