A member of parliament was among six people killed when a helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in western Kenya, authorities said Saturday.
The aircraft went down in a hilly area of Nandi County and burst into flames minutes after departure, according to police chief Samuel Mukuusi. All six people on board died in the crash.
Among the victims was lawmaker Johana Ng’eno, 54, who was serving his third term in parliament after being re-elected in 2022.
Mukuusi said investigations into the cause of the crash are underway, with initial reports pointing to poor weather conditions at the time of the incident. Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority has yet to issue an official statement.
Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang’ula paid tribute to Ng’eno, describing him as a “devoted legislator and a committed servant of the people.”
Authorities are expected to release further details as the investigation continues.
