NAIROBI, Kenya — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has sharply criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over allegations surrounding the death of former Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ng’eno, accusing him of exploiting the tragedy for political relevance.
Murkomen said Gachagua had turned the deaths of Ng’eno, former Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga into political issues, describing the move as insensitive and irresponsible.
“Rigathi Gachagua, you are a hopeless, helpless and despicable human being. One who will exploit anything under the sun to resuscitate a failed political career,” Murkomen said in a statement posted on social media.
Gachagua had claimed that intelligence information indicated the fuel used by the helicopter was transported from Lodwar to Eldoret, where the aircraft stopped to refuel before the fatal crash. He also questioned whether officials who allegedly intercepted the vehicle transporting the fuel were later threatened.
Gachagua further called for the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to release CCTV footage from Eldoret airstrip and questioned what Murkomen knew about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Murkomen rejects fuel allegations
Murkomen dismissed the claims as a conspiracy theory, saying the preliminary explanation for the crash was bad weather.
He said residents of Chepkiyep in Nandi County, where the pilot reportedly made an emergency landing while waiting for weather conditions to improve, had corroborated the account of deteriorating weather before the crash.
“The cause of the unfortunate plane crash was preliminarily attributed to bad weather,” Murkomen said.
He also rejected any suggestion that his ministry had responsibility for the supply of aviation fuel or supervision of air transport.
“The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration has absolutely no oversight over supply of fuel, and does not supervise air transport. You know this, yet you still rush to drag my name ostensibly to gain political traction in Rift Valley,” he said.
CS challenges Gachagua to provide intelligence
Murkomen challenged Gachagua to provide evidence supporting his claims, particularly the alleged intelligence concerning a vehicle transporting the fuel.
Gachagua had said a vehicle carrying jet fuel was allegedly intercepted by Kenya Revenue Authority officials at Eldoret airstrip and that its driver disclosed that the fuel had been transported from Lodwar.
Murkomen questioned why Gachagua had not publicly identified the officials or driver he referred to, or provided their statements to investigators.
“You claim you have intelligence about an ‘unusual car’ that allegedly carried the jet fuel and about a driver who was briefly arrested by KRA officials. Mr. Rigathi, why don’t you make their names public?” Murkomen asked.
He urged the former deputy president to provide the alleged evidence to investigators or record a formal statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Murkomen described the allegations as “made-up, cooked-up nonsense meant for political mischief.”
Dispute over Ng’eno’s family
The Cabinet Secretary also accused Gachagua of failing to support Ng’eno’s family following the MP’s death more than five months ago.
He claimed Gachagua had neither contacted nor visited the family despite later describing Ng’eno as his friend.
“Where have you been all this time? You have never called Ng’eno’s family. You have never visited to condole with them. Not once,” Murkomen said.
He further accused Gachagua of announcing Ng’eno’s death at a political rally before the family had been informed, saying the former deputy president’s latest allegations had caused additional distress to relatives still mourning the MP.
Ng’eno died in a helicopter crash in March 2026 while travelling in the Rift Valley.
Political battle intensifies
The exchange comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Gachagua positioning himself as a major opposition figure and seeking to expand his political influence in the Rift Valley.
Murkomen accused the former deputy president of using the deaths of prominent Kenyans to gain political attention and said he would not be distracted from his responsibilities in government.
“Your attempt to distract Kenyans from your own disgraceful and criminal enterprise will not work,” Murkomen said.
He added that he would continue carrying out his public duties and protecting Kenyans despite what he described as Gachagua’s attempts to create instability.
