On Sunday, June 10, 2012, Kenya’s two ministers, Minister of Internal Security George Saitoti and his Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode, died in a helicopter crash in Kibiko Forest, Ngong Hills, near Nairobi. According to several reports, the crash occurred around 9 a.m.
Prior to the crash, the two were en route to a fundraising event in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County. They boarded a Kenya Police Airwing Eurocopter AS350B3e at Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
Minutes after takeoff, the helicopter crashed into Kibiko Forest, killing all six occupants on board.
Also killed in the crash were pilots Captain Luke Oyugi and Nancy Gituanja, as well as bodyguards Inspector Joshua Tonkei and Sergeant Thomas Murimi.
Saitoti and Ojode Die in a Plane Crash
Their deaths came at a time when several politicians were actively campaigning ahead of the preparations for the 2013 general elections. Many politicians suspended their campaigns that day and gathered at Saitoti’s and Ojode’s homes to mourn with their families.
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Following their deaths, President Mwai Kibaki declared three days of national mourning. He eulogized both Ojode and Saitoti as dedicated public servants.
“The honorable Professor George Saitoti and honorable Orwa Ojode were highly respected members of parliament who served their nation diligently,” he stated. “We will greatly miss their contributions. They were patriots and committed public servants.”
Kibaki also called on the public to remain calm while the investigation into the cause of the crash was conducted.
“As we embark on thorough investigations into the cause of the crash, I appeal to all Kenyans to remain calm. I assure you that we will conduct full investigations, and the Kenyan public will be informed appropriately,” Kibaki added.
Kibaki and Raila Mourn Both Ministers
Raila Odinga, who was the Prime Minister at the time, visited the accident scene and stated that the government would investigate to determine the cause of the crash.
“Investigations will be conducted to establish the cause of the crash, and the Cabinet will decide the number of days for mourning. It is unfortunate that the deaths of Prof. Saitoti and Mr. Ojode occurred on the fourth anniversary of the deaths of the late Minister Kipkalia Kones and the late MP for Sotik, Lorna Laboso, who also perished in a plane crash,” Odinga remarked.
Both Saitoti and Ojode were honored with state funerals attended by top Kenyan leaders and foreign dignitaries.
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A commission of inquiry led by Justice Kalpana Rawal investigated the crash and identified multiple factors contributing to the accident.
The commission’s report indicated that the helicopter was overloaded by at least 11 kg, the pilots were inexperienced with the Eurocopter model and untrained for poor weather, and the aircraft’s battery may have been improperly maintained, potentially leading to a fire. The helicopter followed an erratic course, making sharp turns before nose-diving and exploding upon impact.
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