This is the aircraft designed and assembled in Embu, Kenya

Edward Nyaga Namu shows people parts of his “helicopter” during an exhibition at Embu showground recently. PHOTO: JOSEPH MUCHIRI/STANDARD

Edward Nyaga Namu believes one day he will soar into the skies like an eagle in an aircraft he is assembling.

Using locally available materials, Nyaga, 42, is working day and night to realise his dream of manufacturing a helicopter.

He is already done with the designing stage and has assembled a chopper-like machine using aluminium sheets, a motorcycle engine and spare tubes, among other paraphernalia and he believes it is just a matter of time before he joins the list of those who traverse the skies.

Nyaga who hails from Kamumu village, Mbeere North in Embu County discloses he has already spent Sh200,000 on the machine and nothing will stop him from achieving his childhood dream.

As a child, the father of eight dreamt he would one day fly a plane and would envision himself in starched white blazers donned by pilots as an employee of Kenya Airways.

And so he studied hard hoping to pass with flying colours and advance his flying career, but unfortunately while in Form Two his father, who was the family’s breadwinner, died.

“My mother was unable to fund my education and I dropped out of school shattering my hopes of enrolling for an aviation course after secondary school,” he recalls.

As time passed, Nyaga realised the folly of lamenting about his misfortunes and decided to use whatever means at his disposal to soar into the skies.

He took up casual jobs to supplement his family’s income and eventually set up a mechanic and welding business at Siakago market, which he operates to date.

His dream was revived in 2013 when, at the height of election campaigns, he saw a helicopter up close and he started collecting raw materials.

Nyaga bought a second-hand motorcycle engine, scrap metals and aluminium sheets. Then using his skills in mechanics and welding, he begun assembling the metallic bird over a period of 18 months.

His helicopter has two sets of rotating blades, which enables it to hover and move in whichever direction.

Nyaga says the short range, petrol-powered aircraft with a single seat can fly two metres high but is yet to leave the ground since it has no propellers to push against air.

His helicopter constantly attracts curious and bemused looks. While on display at the recent Embu Agricultural Society of Kenya show, hundreds stopped by to stare at it and the creation emerged as one of the top innovations at the fair.