- Six people, including Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno, died when a helicopter crashed in Chepkiep, Nandi County, on February 28
- The Eurocopter 350, registered as 5Y-DSB, had attempted an emergency landing amid heavy rain before bursting into flames
- As authorities continue investigations into the tragedy that has gripped the nation, TUKO.co.ke shares the identities of those who perished
A routine charter flight turned into a national tragedy on Saturday afternoon when a helicopter went down in the Chepkiep area of Mosop Constituency, Nandi County, claiming six lives.
Source: Facebook
The aircraft, an Eurocopter 350, registered as 5Y-DSB and operated by Youth Aviation Ltd, had departed Wilson Airport in Nairobi at 11.02 am.
Eyewitness recalls chopper’s last moments
At around 4.45 pm, after reportedly making an emergency landing amid heavy rainfall and poor visibility, it burst into flames.
According to eyewitness accounts, adverse weather conditions, particularly the heavy mist and poor visibility, may have played a significant role in causing the accident.
They explained that the chopper lost stability and tumbled shortly after attempting to take off again following the emergency landing.
“There was massive mist. We heard the chopper trying to make an emergency landing. It headed toward a forest and managed to land, but the occupants appeared visibly shocked after a crowd gathered. One of them signaled the pilot to take off, and immediately the aircraft lifted off. We heard it crash barely two minutes later,” one of them recounted.
The witnesses further added that the helicopter struck several trees, scattering all the occupants in different directions upon impact.
One passenger initially seemed to survive, but his breathing weakened and did not last, as he tragically died shortly after the crash despite efforts to assist him.
“We found one passenger still breathing and tried to resuscitate him, but all was in vain as he died shortly afterwards. We started screaming, and that is how more people rushed to the scene,” the eyewitness added.
As investigations into the crash continue, TUKO.co.ke shares the identities of those who died in the crash, giving the disaster a deeply human face.
MP Johana Ng’eno
Among those killed was Johana Ng’eno, the outspoken Member of Parliament for Emurua Dikirr, popularly known as Ngong. Ngeno was in the front seat next to the pilot.
Born on December 12, 1972, in rural Narok County, Ng’eno studied at Kyiv TSN University in Ukraine, earning a degree in International Law, before completing a Bachelor of Laws at Mount Kenya University and a Master of Arts in International Studies at the University of Nairobi.
Before entering Parliament, he served as Director at the Agricultural Development Corporation between 2008 and 2012. First elected in 2013, he was serving his third consecutive term, having been re-elected in 2017 and 2022.
Authorities confirmed that a mobile phone and SIM card belonging to him were recovered at the crash site, a haunting reminder of a life abruptly cut short.
His body was ferried to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) morgue in Eldoret ahead of the transfer to Nairobi’s Lee Funeral Home.
Source: Facebook
Captain George Were
At the controls of the ill-fated aircraft was pilot George Were, an experienced aviator entrusted with the lives of those on board.
Colleagues described him as dedicated and professional, accustomed to navigating Kenya’s challenging weather conditions.
On the tragic Saturday evening, however, nature proved unforgiving.
Amos Kipngetich Rotich
Also among the deceased was Amos Kipngetich Rotich, an officer with the Kenya Forest Service, who was attached to Migori Forest Station, Kehancha outpost in Migori County.
Known to friends as committed to environmental conservation, Rotich, KFS number 06821, had devoted his career to protecting Kenya’s forests and wildlife.
His phone and SIM card were also recovered from the scene. Rotich hailed from Soget Village, Murkan Location, in Transmara Sub-County, Narok County.
Nick Kosgei
Nick Kosgei, a journalist and photographer, was another life lost. Through his lens, he documented stories across the country, capturing moments of triumph and struggle alike. On this journey, he was part of the story he would never tell.
Hours before the crash, Kosgei shared a short video from the Mara Rianta area near the Mara River, a painful reminder of the fragility of life.
He added a song about seeking assistance from God when facing challenges to the footage, a detail that has since left many questioning the chilling coincidence.
Kosgei’s death has sent shockwaves across social media, with colleagues and friends pouring out tributes as they struggled to come to terms with his sudden demise.
Mwalimu Carlos Keter
Carlos Keter was a young teacher from Nandi County who was recently employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) after years of struggle.
That long wait finally came to an end in January 2026 when his area Member of Parliament, Ngeno, intervened and got him into the system.
He never lived to receive his first salary, as tragedy struck when the crash claimed both their lives, replacing the promise of a new beginning with grief.
Those who knew him remember a man who never lost faith in his profession. Teaching was not just a career to him; it was his purpose.
Source: Facebook
SportPesa Ronoh
Sportpesa Ronoh was Ng’eno’s staunch supporter and one of those who helped plan his itinerary for the constituency.
He was a member of staff at the County Government of Narok, Office of the Governor, but spent his free time with the MP.
“When you asked Ngong for anything, be it his schedule, support, to meet him or anything, he would tell you to remind him through Sportpesa,” Karen Chepkendy wrote.
National mourning
Each victim carried a story: a lawmaker shaped by rural roots, a pilot entrusted with lives, a forest officer protecting the environment, and a journalist preserving history.
Their final journey ended in what has become a national disaster, but the impact they made in their service, professions and communities endures.
In the wake of the tragedy, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced that a parliamentary team led by Julius Melly, assisted by Mugambi Rindikiri and eight other Members, would coordinate funeral arrangements.
Meanwhile, the crash is now under investigation by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department.
As officials piece together what went wrong in the skies over Nandi, families across Kenya are grappling with an unbearable truth: behind every aviation statistic are names, faces and unfinished stories.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
