MP Ng’eno among six killed in fiery Nandi helicopter crash
The bodies of Emurua Dikirr Member of Parliament (MP) Johana Ng’eno and five others killed in a helicopter crash in Nandi County were moved to Lee Funeral Home yesterday evening, as fresh details emerged about the final moments before the fatal take-off attempt.
Emotional scenes unfolded at the Nairobi facility shortly after 6pm when six hearses arrived in a convoy from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
A small delegation of MPs, who had earlier travelled to Eldoret to oversee the transfer, accompanied the bodies.
Grieving family members and leaders gathered at the funeral home broke down as the convoy pulled in.
The victims’ remains had earlier been transported from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital to Eldoret International Airport before being airlifted to Nairobi.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to facilitate the transportation of all six bodies.
“As a nation, we continue to mourn with the bereaved families during this painful time. We stand in solidarity with them and remain committed to offering the necessary support,” Wetang’ula said.
The crash occurred on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at about 4:45pm near Chepkieb Forest in Mosop, Nandi County.
The helicopter, registration 5Y-D5B, had reportedly made an emergency landing around 4pm due to poor visibility caused by heavy rains.
Witnesses said the pilot briefly interacted with herders near the makeshift landing site as he assessed deteriorating weather conditions.
According to residents, the aircraft later attempted to take off but failed to gain sufficient altitude. It reportedly struck trees at the edge of the forest before crashing and bursting into flames.
“The impact was instant and fiery,” said one eyewitness who arrived shortly after the crash.
Debris among them twisted metal and charred fragments were scattered across the forest edge as darkness fell.
All six occupants are believed to have died on the spot.
Besides Ngeno, the victims were identified as pilot George Were from Nyakach in Kisumu County, Amos Kipngetich Rotich, a forester and the MP’s bodyguard, Nick Koskei, the MP’s photographer, Carlos Keter, a high school teacher from Emurua Dikirr and Wycliffe Rono, an employee of the Narok County government.
The aircraft had reportedly been enroute from Endebess at the time of the incident.
The severity of the crash has complicated identification efforts.
Philip Kirwa, CEO of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, described the condition of the bodies as “severely compromised,” making visual identification impossible and necessitating further forensic procedures.
Nandi County Police Commander Samuel Mukuusi confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations secured the crash site on Saturday evening pending further examination.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the crash, with early indications pointing to adverse weather conditions.
However, aviation experts caution that factors such as mechanical failure, pilot decision-making, and terrain may also come under scrutiny as investigators piece together the aircraft’s final movements.
Authorities are expected to release preliminary findings once next of kin have been formally notified and technical assessments are completed, as the country grapples with the loss of a third-term legislator and five others in one of the region’s deadliest recent air incidents.
