NAIROBI, Kenya- Parliament has facilitated the airlifting of the remains of Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ng’eno and five other victims of a fatal helicopter crash in Nandi County to Nairobi, as a parliamentary team begins coordinating burial arrangements.
The bodies were flown on Sunday from Eldoret International Airport to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and will later be transferred to a city morgue for preservation ahead of burial.
The remains had earlier been moved to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) following the Saturday afternoon crash.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula directed the Clerk of the House to facilitate the transportation after formally communicating Ng’eno’s death to Parliament.
“I have directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to facilitate the transportation of the bodies of all victims of the fatal helicopter crash in Nandi to Nairobi,” Wetang’ula said.
“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 to ease the burden of their loss.”
The crash occurred at Kabiet Sub-location in the Mosop area of Nandi Hills at about 4:30 pm. The aircraft, a Eurocopter AS350, registration 5Y-DSB, had been travelling from Endebes to Mosoriot when it went down, killing all six people on board.
At MTRH, Chief Executive Philip Kirwa said the hospital had received the remains but described their condition as severely compromised.
“From our observation and analysis of the bodies, we kindly ask you to bear with us. At the moment, the condition of the remains is severely compromised,” Kirwa said, adding that visual identification was not possible and forensic procedures would be required.
Hospital officials barred families and the public from viewing the bodies due to the extent of the damage.
Forensic teams are preparing the remains for formal identification using scientific methods in line with legal and medical protocols.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has launched investigations into the cause of the crash. Director General Emile Arao said confirmation of casualties and identities would be communicated once next of kin have been formally notified.
Investigations are being led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department.
Speaker Wetang’ula also announced the appointment of a parliamentary committee to coordinate funeral arrangements. The team will be led by Tinderet MP Julius Melly and deputised by Mugambi Rindikiri.
Ng’eno, a three-term legislator first elected in 2013, chaired the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning, and Public Works. In the 12th Parliament, he served on the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee. Under his leadership, the Housing Committee steered the passage of the Affordable Housing Act of 2024.
Earlier on Saturday, Ng’eno had been attending community engagements in Narok and parts of Nandi County, including activities linked to rescue efforts along the Mara River following flooding.
In a video recorded from the helicopter and shared on social media, he expressed solidarity with families searching for two young men whose vehicle had reportedly been swept away.
President William Ruto led the nation in mourning, describing Ng’eno as a progressive and devoted public servant. Democratic for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua called for a thorough and transparent probe into the crash.
“I call for thorough and speedy investigations into the cause of the crash that must be made public,” Gachagua said.
As investigations begin, the tragedy raises renewed scrutiny over aviation safety oversight and the regulatory framework governing private and chartered aircraft operations in Kenya.
