Siaya Senator and ODM party leader Oburu Odinga speaking during a requiem service for the victims of Saturday’s helicopter crash at the Africa Gospel Church (AGC) in Karen, Nairobi/SCREENGRAB




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Siaya Senator and ODM party leader Oburu Odinga has cautioned politicians against reading malice into the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno and five others on Saturday.

Speaking during a requiem service for the victims held at the Africa Gospel Church (AGC) in Karen, Nairobi, Oburu said there was a risk that some politicians could attempt to politicise the accident by insinuating foul play without evidence.

He urged restraint and respect for the grieving families.

“Politicians who have very little agenda will always want to read some malice in the death of other politicians,” Oburu said. “But politicians are also human beings and can get involved in a normal accident and die like everybody else.”

He appealed to Kenyans to allow investigations to proceed without speculation.

“Please do not read malice in the death of our brother Ng’eno. He has died like everybody else,” he added.

Oburu noted that while Ngeno’s name has featured prominently in public discussions due to his political stature, the other five victims of the crash were equally important, and their families are enduring immense pain.

“Ngeno’s name is being mentioned more because he was a Member of Parliament, but the families of the other five are equally pained for losing their loved ones,” he said.

The helicopter crash in Chepkieb Forest, Mosop also claimed the lives of the pilot George Were from Nyakach, Kisumu, forester Amos Kipngetich Rotich, the MP’s bodyguard Nick Koskei, his photographer Carlos Keter, high school teacher Wycliffe Rono, and an employee of Narok County government.

In honour of the deceased, legislators in the National Assembly approved a motion to suspend the morning sitting on Wednesday to allow members to attend the requiem service.

Ngeno, first elected to Parliament in 2013, was serving his third consecutive term at the time of his death. His burial is scheduled for Friday, following a joint final ceremony at Emurua Dikirr Primary School.

In line with Kipsigis customs, the bodies of Ng’eno and Rono will be transported from Lee Funeral Home to their rural homes for an overnight vigil on Thursday. The remains of Keter, Koskei, and Kipngetich will also depart Nairobi the same day.

On Friday, all six bodies will converge at Emurua Dikirr Primary School for a joint final ceremony before families proceed with individual burial rites.

A preliminary report by the National Police Service indicated that the helicopter was flying at a very low altitude before hitting trees and crashing, leading to the tragic loss of life.

In a statement on Sunday, March 1, Nandi County Police Commander Samuel Mukuusi confirmed that investigators have already recovered critical equipment, including the helicopter’s black box, which will help investigators piece together the final moments of the helicopter.