Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno is among six people dead after a helicopter they were travelling in crashed and burst into flames on the edge of Chepkieb Forest in Mosop, Nandi County, on Saturday evening.
The chopper went down at about 4.45pm, moments after attempting to take off from a makeshift landing site near the forest, following what witnesses described as poor visibility caused by ongoing rains in the area.
According to residents, the aircraft had earlier made an emergency landing at around 4pm as weather conditions deteriorated. The pilot is said to have briefly engaged herders near the site in conversation while assessing the situation.
Witnesses say the helicopter later lifted off but did not get far. It reportedly crashed into trees a few metres away at the edge of the forest.
“The impact was instant and fiery,” said one resident who arrived at the scene shortly after the crash. “The chopper burst into flames immediately.”
All six people on board, including the pilot, are believed to have died on the spot. The aircraft had reportedly ferried five passengers en route from Endebess before the crash.
As darkness fell over the area, debris from the helicopter lay scattered across the forest edge — twisted metal and charred fragments marking the scene of the tragedy.
Nandi County Police Commander Samuel Mukuusi confirmed the incident but said the identities of the deceased had not yet been established.
“We can confirm that a helicopter crashed in Mosop and six people are feared dead. Investigations are ongoing,” he said.
Preliminary reports indicate that documents belonging to an official from the Kenya Forest Service were recovered at the crash site, though authorities have not confirmed whether the official was among those on board.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have since arrived at the scene and begun investigations into the cause of the crash.
By Saturday night, the remains of the deceased had not yet been retrieved as security teams secured the area pending further examination.
