MAF’s Daniel Loewen-Rudgers at Wamba Airstrip in Kenya (credit: Katie Machell)

For two decades, pilot Daniel Loewen-Rudgers – who is head of MAF operations for Kenya and South Sudan – has medevacked sick patients, delivered lifesaving supplies, and enabled medics to treat hundreds of patients from isolated villages. MAF’s Claire Gilderson looks back at his incredible career…

Growing up in Arusha and Mbeya in Tanzania from the age of two until twelve, had a profound impact on Daniel’s life.

Daniel first encountered MAF on a small Mbeya airstrip, which was frequented by their planes and pilots. It was there that he first thought about becoming a MAF pilot.

The family later relocated to Kenya where Daniel went to high school. A degree in Canada followed.

During his Christmas break in Kenya, Daniel talked to a friend about studying mission aviation at Canada’s Providence College.

Daniel delivers food and clothing to the people of Sesia in Kenya (credit: Annelie Edsmyr)

This paved the way for a long career in MAF, something Daniel has never regretted:

‘I really love working with MAF. The impact on me and the world around me, and the ability to be part of something bigger than myself that I can see and tangibly feel is huge.

‘20 years later, I’m still here. I’m really glad that I’ve been able to serve this long and feel blessed and grateful to God that he made it possible. I feel humbled and honoured.’

Pilot Daniel Loewen-Rudgers, Head of MAF Operations for Kenya & South Sudan

A challenging, yet rewarding job

Since Daniel started working for MAF in 2005, he has helped transform hundreds of lives in Kenya and South Sudan.

Daniel (R) with MAF colleague Ping Domtta (L) fly to Marsabit (credit: Mark & Kelly Hewes)

More recently, he has combined flying with leadership, which is rewarding, but has its challenges:

‘Nowadays with my role as head of operations as well as flying, I spend a lot more time in the office.

‘It’s become harder to balance home life with work life, but I actually really enjoy the job, whether it’s important meetings about our flying in South Sudan, planning aircraft movements for maintenance, or vision casting for Kenya and the whole region. Being involved in all those things motivates me and excites me.’

Loewen-Rudgers family L-R: Aliza, Joshua, Nala, Daniel & Damaris (credit: Paula Alderblad)

Fighting cholera

Earlier this year, Daniel’s flying was critical in the fight against cholera in Pibor, eastern South Sudan.

Daniel and fellow MAF pilot, Ide Gooden, flew two doctors and nearly two tons of essential drugs, intravenous fluids, water purification tablets, and medical supplies, which saved many lives.

MAF joined forces with Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and ACROSS as part of a two-pronged approach – treatment (MSF) and prevention (ACROSS) – to stop the disease from spreading further.

Thanks to MAF, Dr Wani Moses Joseph and Dr Silham Seif Eldin from ACROSS were able to reach Pibor quickly by air.

Dr Moses & the team couldn’t do their job properly without MAF (credit: Jenny Davies)

Overland from the capital, Juba, it would have taken them nearly three days to reach their destination– far too long to contain a life-threatening cholera outbreak. Dr Wani explains the significance of Daniel’s role:

‘The medical supplies brought by MAF were enough to treat patients for several months. They greatly improved the situation, as most of the partners were out of stock.

‘After training the volunteers and the distribution of water purifiers, we were also able to support the mass vaccination of communities.’

In addition to transporting vital medication which saved lives, Daniel enabled the doctors to quickly mobilise community awareness volunteers. By advocating handwashing with soap, the use of latrines and disinfecting water sources, the team were able to improve sanitation, which helped contain the disease.

Flights like these are a matter of life and death says Daniel:

‘We’re bringing IV fluids and medication for a lot of children who have developed an infection, so it’s quite a big deal.

‘When we bring urgent medical assistance which saves lives, those are the kind of flights that MAF pilots live for. I can see tangible results of what I’m doing. That medicine in the back of the caravan is going to save many lives.

‘Those sorts of flights are very exciting and impactful. It’s a reminder that the work I’m doing is very important and much needed. Flights like these really motivate me and inspire me to keep going.’

Water purification tablets are unloaded at Pibor to fight cholera (credit: Jenny Davies)

In the case of this cholera outbreak, Daniel’s job is a small, yet critical link in a bigger chain of events, says Daniel:

‘When we work with partners like ACROSS, we are just a small part of the bigger work. In this case, getting the medication from Juba to Pibor is incredibly difficult and they wouldn’t have been able to manage that without MAF. However, there’s so much more that goes into it – like getting the medication and organising the doctors, etc.

‘Although our medical flights are a small part of that big chain of events and logistics that need to be organised, we are a critical part. I just feel privileged to be part of something much bigger than just the transportation of goods.’

Enabling access to clean water

Where access to clean water is scarce among the isolated villages of Marsabit County in northern Kenya, Daniel has been flying in hundreds of water filters, which have transformed 2,000 lives.

Without MAF’s two-hour flight from the capital Nairobi to Loglogo, it would take the Water Matters team seven hours of exhausting overland travel to deliver the filters.

Marcus (L) & Meshack (R) demonstrate water filters (credit:Paula Alderblad)

Thanks to Daniel, the team avoided pot-holed ridden dirt tracks, risk of breakdown, and potentially dangerous community clashes. They arrived safe and refreshed with more time to serve communities instead of battling non-existent ‘roads’. Marcus Ahlander, co-founder of Water Matters, really values the partnership:

‘We love partnering with MAF because they fly to many remote locations across Kenya where these water filters are needed. By working together, these water filters will help many people access clean and safe drinking water.’

Daniel was moved by the experience:

‘Meshack Gayere – a dedicated community health assistant – reminded me once again, why we do what we do. He said that the water filters were a lifeline for his community. They didn’t just provide clean water, they brought hope, health, and the promise of a better future.

‘As the team demonstrated how to use the filters, the villagers watched in awe as dirty water was transformed into clear drinking water. The look of sheer joy on their faces was something I will never forget. They called the team “angels sent from heaven,” that was how much these simple devices meant to them.’

Daniel delivered another 150 water filters earlier this year to the remote villages of Enairebuk, Mausa and Enchorro Naibor across the Loita Hills of southern Kenya. Daniel’s 30-minute flight from Nairobi to Enairebuk, prevented eight hours of overland travel for the Water Matters team.

Hundreds more isolated people are now benefiting from clean water thanks to the filters delivered by MAF.

Locals are amazed at the filtered water in Loglogo (credit:Paula Alderblad)

More miraculous medical flights

Daniel was one of the MAF pilots who flew 13-year-old throat cancer patient Samuel from Enairebuk to Nairobi for regular radiography and chemotherapy treatment.

Due to a lack of adequate hospital care in the region, Samuel had to access treatment in the capital in order to survive, but that was an eight-hour drive away! MAF’s half hour flights were the only feasible option.

Thanks to MAF’s pivotal role, Samuel got the all clear this year. Daniel is delighted to have played his part in Samuel’s recovery:

‘I’m very excited to see him improve and thrive again. We got him to Nairobi quickly and safely, and we’re happy to support Samuel and his family with that. We look forward to supporting other medical flights in and out of this community in future – it’s an exciting opportunity.’

Daniel flew Samuel to Nairobi for lifesaving cancer treatment (credit: Hillim Gitonga)

Daniel has also been key to MAF’s successful partnership with CURE International, which gives children access to free life-changing surgery and orthopaedic treatment.

MAF facilitates mobile medical clinics, which flies CURE’s orthopaedic specialists to isolated communities who do not have access to hospitals.

Nine-year-old Given from Lodwar, northwestern Kenya, has hydrocephalus and spina bifida. His conditions require ongoing treatments and surgery, but before he encountered MAF’s mobile medical clinics, Given and his mum Salome would spend 12 hours on the road just to reach hospital in Kijabe.

Thanks to MAF, Given no longer has a 12 hour road trip to hospital (credit: P. Alderblad)

Now, Daniel and other MAF pilots, fly CURE’s medics to Lodwar in a fraction of the time meaning that Salome no longer struggles to make Given’s appointments or incurs expensive travel costs.

Earlier this year, Daniel flew CURE’s orthopaedic team to the remote town of Kilfi on Kenya’s southeastern coast. The one-hour flight from Nairobi saved the team 10 hours of overland travel.

Precious time was spent treating 96 patients instead of battling rough roads. Daniel is happy to help:

‘My job is not just a job. The best thing about working with MAF is the close interaction with the people we serve, and I get to use my skills in a place where I can see the rewards.

‘Spending days on ground with CURE during those mobile medical clinics, gives me the chance to see the amazing work they do for the patients, which is very rewarding.’

The MAF/CURE partnership transforms sick children’s lives (Jenny Davies)

One of MAF’s newest initiatives in Kenya, is the mobile eye clinics where MAF has joined forces with the Fred Hollows Foundation to restore sight to hundreds of people.

Similarly to the mobile medical clinics, MAF flies eye specialists to Kenya’s most isolated communities where they have no access to opticians or optometrists.

Earlier this year, Daniel flew a team to Moyale in northern Kenya, near Ethiopia’s border. The flight from Nairobi took two hours, saving them 12 hours of rough roads.

Instead of spending precious time battling brutal overland travel, the team managed to screen 568 patients in five days. Nearly 200 of them underwent surgery (mostly cataract removal) preventing blindness, and 370 received vital medication.

300+ Moyale patients can see again thanks to MAF/Fred Hollows Foundation (credit:FHF)

County Eye Care Coordinator Amina Duba emphasises the importance of MAF:

‘MAF’s support means more time on the ground and less time lost to travel. In places like Moyale, time matters. It can mean the difference between someone going blind or getting help in time.’

In addition to countless medical flights and delivering access to clean water, Daniel’s flying and leadership skills have also helped raise awareness about female genital mutilation, cared for orphans, treated sick livestock, and equipped people for work.

Daniel: ‘We’re not just pilots – we’re a lifeline!’ (credit: Paula Alderblad)

Daniel sums up his incredible 20 years of service for MAF:

‘I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve these communities and to work alongside such dedicated people. These flights remind me that we’re not just pilots — we’re a lifeline to those who need it most. Every flight makes a world of difference.’

Pilot Daniel Loewen-Rudgers, Head of MAF Operations for Kenya & South Sudan

Daniel enjoys working with a range of people (credit: Paula Alderblad)