As the bodies of the six victims of the Saturday, February 28 helicopter crash were airlifted from Eldoret to Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi on Sunday, new details have emerged regarding the final moments of the ill-fated flight.
The crash, involving an Airbus H125 (registration 5Y-DSB), didn’t just claim a prominent MP; it took the lives of five other dedicated professionals.
The Timeline: A Battle with the Elements
According to flight tracking data and eyewitness accounts from Chepkiep Village, the helicopter departed Wilson Airport at 11:02 AM. After a morning assignment in Mara Rianta, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather near the Nandi North Forest.
The Emergency Landing: At approximately 4:15 PM, the pilot, George Were, made a successful precautionary landing in a field to wait out heavy rainfall and mist.
The Interaction: Local herders reported that the pilot stepped out and briefly consulted them about how long the “heavy clouds” usually took to clear.
The Tragedy: Believing the weather had marginally improved, the aircraft took off again. Within 300 meters, it reportedly lost stability, struck a group of large trees, and burst into flames.
Beyond the MP: The Six Lives Lost
While the headlines focus on Hon. Johana Ng’eno, the tragedy has devastated five other families. The victims have been identified as:
Hon. Johana Ng’eno: Three-term MP for Emurua Dikirr.
George Were: An experienced captain and the pilot in command.
Nick Kosgei: The MP’s personal photographer and a talented Maseno University alumnus.
Amos Kipngetich Rotich: A dedicated Kenya Forest Service (KFS) ranger.
Robert Kipkoech Keter: A local teacher and close associate of the MP.
Wycliffe Kiprotich Rono: A protocol officer from the Narok County government.
Growing Demands for an Independent Probe
The political atmosphere surrounding the crash is turning tense. Speaking from Nyahururu on Sunday, Rigathi Gachagua called for a “thorough and independent investigation,” noting that Ng’eno had recently faced “political intimidation.”
While preliminary reports from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) point toward adverse weather as the primary factor, some leaders, including Richard Onyonka, have called for the involvement of external investigators to rule out foul play.
A Community in Mourning
In Emurua Dikirr, the “throne” of the Kipsigis kingpin sits empty. Thousands of mourners who thronged the MP’s Mogondo home on Sunday described a man who died doing what he loved—serving his people. His final act was consoling families whose children had been swept away by the Mara River.
“He went to save others from the water, only to be taken by the fire,” lamented one constituent during a prayer vigil.
