Aircraft crashes have in the past claimed the lives of a number of prominent Kenyans, including Cabinet ministers....CONTINUE READING
On Thursday, a chopper crash claimed the life of Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla and several other military officials.
In 2003, a trip to celebrate the homecoming ceremony of then minister Moody Awori turned tragic after a plane carrying several high-profile Kenyans crashed.
This was weeks after the historic victory of the Narc coalition and appointment of the Cabinet by then President Mwai Kibaki.
Labour minister Ahmad Mohammed Khalif died on arrival at the hospital. Doctors attributed his death to severe chest and head injuries.
Three other ministers who were on the plane survived but remained in “critical conditions”.
The three were Tourism minister Raphael Tuju, Water minister Martha Karua and Linah Kilimo.
A number of MPs and activists, including now Chief Justice Martha Koome, were on the plane and survived with varying degree of injuries.
Police explanation was that the plane “hit an electric cable and that brought it down on top of a house” turning it into “…a complete wreck”.
The crash happened at Busia airstrip close to the Ugandan border.
In 2006, six MPs died when a plane crashed on a hill and burst into flames near Marsabit National Park in Northeastern.
They included Deputy Leader of the Opposition and North Horr MP, who was also a former Foreign Minister, Bonaya Godana, Saku MP Abdi Sasura, Moyale MP Guracha Galgallo, Laisamis MP and Assistant Minister of Regional Development Titus Ngoyoni, member of the East African Parliament Lt-General (Rtd) Abdullahi Adan, MP Mirugi Kariuki, who was assistant minister for Internal Security, and Bishop William Waqo.
Then Marsabit DC Mutea Iringo said the aircraft had crashed into a hill due to heavy fog as it approached the airstrip outside town.
“After it crashed, it burst into flames and the fire was so fierce that some of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition,” he said.
The MPs were on a peacemaking trip, seeking to mediate between warring communities in the area, where conflict over pasture and water is common.
Four people were pulled from the wreckage alive, witnesses said.
In 2008, a plane carrying then Roads minister Kipkalya Kones and Home Affairs assistant minister Lorna Laboso crashed, killing the two and two others.
The plane crashed near the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Narok.
Kones was 56 years old and Lorna Laboso was 47. Laboso was then the MP for Sotik, while Kones was a prominent Kalenjin political name, having served five-terms in Parliament.
“The wreckage has been found and there are no survivors … Our country has lost leaders of immense potential at their prime age and with a promising future,” the Office of the President announced at the time.
The two ministers were top ODM members, with then Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s spokesman describing the news of the crash as “unbearable”.
Then Narok police bosses said the “plane came down on an unoccupied house and disintegrated, killing all four occupants”.
In 2012, Internal Security minister George Saitoti and his assistant minister Orwa Ojode died in a plane crash.
The crash happened at Kibiku Forest in Ngong’ killing all six people on board, including the two pilots.
The pilots were identified as Captain Nancy Gituanja and Captain Luke Oyugi.
Saitoti and Ojode’s bodyguards identified as Inspector Joshua Tonkei and Sergeant Thomas Murimi also died in the 8.30am crash..<<CONTINUE READING>>
