By Swift Reporter
A Kenyan member of parliament was among six people killed on Saturday after a helicopter crashed in Nandi County in western Kenya, authorities have confirmed.
Police said the aircraft went down minutes after takeoff in a hilly area of Mosop and burst into flames. All six people on board, including the pilot, died in the accident, according to Nandi County Police Commander Samuel Mukuusi.
Among the victims was Johana Ng’eno, the Member of Parliament for Emurua Dikirr Constituency. William Ruto confirmed the lawmaker’s death in a post on X, expressing condolences to the bereaved families.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends, the people of Emurua Dikirr, and all the victims and families affected by the helicopter crash in Mosop, Nandi County,” the president wrote.
Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang’ula eulogized Ng’eno as a “devoted legislator and a committed servant of the people.”
Ng’eno, 54, was serving his third term in Parliament and had been re-elected in 2022 on a ruling party ticket. He was widely known in his constituency for his grassroots mobilisation and vocal contributions in the National Assembly.
Police indicated that bad weather may have contributed to the crash, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Mukuusi said aviation authorities had launched a probe to determine what led to the tragedy.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority had not issued an official statement by the time of publication.
The identities of the other passengers have not yet been publicly released as authorities work to notify their families.
The crash has shocked the nation, prompting an outpouring of grief from political leaders and citizens alike as investigations continue into the incident.
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