Gachagua Questions Johana Ng’eno Helicopter Crash, Calls for FBI Investigation
The Johana Ng’eno helicopter crash has taken a dramatic political turn after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua cast doubt on the official narrative surrounding the tragic accident that killed the Emurua Dikirr MP and five others.
Ng’eno perished in a chopper crash in Nandi County on Saturday, February 28. He was en route to Narok from Trans Nzoia when the aircraft, a Eurocopter 350 (5Y-DSB), tumbled into Chepkiep Forest in Nandi North, killing all six occupants on board.
Eyewitnesses at the scene initially attributed the accident to bad weather. However, Gachagua has openly questioned that explanation, suggesting the possibility of foul play.
Speaking during a church service in Nyandarua County on Sunday, March 1, Gachagua implied that the crash may not have been accidental. According to him, Ng’eno had recently emerged as a strong political figure within the Kipsigis sub-tribe, a development that allegedly unsettled some powerful leaders.
“He had been under a lot of siege from Murkomen and Cheruiyot trying to suppress his ambition to be the leader of the Kipsigis community. The Kipsigis people have had many challenges. Any time a leader has emerged to lead, the community has faced challenges. We don’t want to say anything, but we want to call for thorough investigations for truth to be known,” he said.
The former DP specifically named Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot as individuals who had opposed the late MP’s political ambitions.
Gachagua further insisted that investigations into the Johana Ng’eno helicopter crash could not be credible if Murkomen remained in office.
“Murkomen can’t be CS Interior and the family of Ng’eno and other Kenyans expect fair and transparent investigations, because Murkomen has been fighting Ng’eno. We want to ask Ruto to ask Murkomen to step aside. Otherwise, we ask that we get Scotland Yard or the FBI to carry out an independent investigation into the air crash that caused the demise of Johana Ng’eno,” he said.
He proposed that either the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or Scotland Yard conduct an independent probe to guarantee transparency and public trust.
His remarks came shortly after the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed it had initiated formal investigations into the crash.
In an official statement issued on Saturday, February 28, the authority announced that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) would lead the probe.
“KCAA has initiated the necessary procedures to support the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID). Further details will be provided as more verified information becomes available,” KCAA stated.
The aviation regulator also extended heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy.
As the investigation unfolds, the Johana Ng’eno helicopter crash has not only left families grieving but also sparked wider political debate across the Rift Valley and beyond. With calls for foreign investigators now in play, the coming weeks could determine whether this tragedy remains an aviation accident — or evolves into one of Kenya’s most politically charged crash investigations.
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Gachagua Questions Johana Ng’eno Helicopter Crash, Calls for FBI Investigation