Why June 10 is a black day for Kenya

By Vitalis Kimutai

Exactly four years ago in the same gloomy weather, two former cabinet ministers, Kipkalya Kiprono Kones and Lorna Chepkemoi Laboso perished in a plane crash in Narok.

The plane carrying the two crashed on June 10, 2008 in what was later attributed to a pilot's error.

The late Kones was Roads Minister and Laboso held the portfolio of Home Affairs assistant minister.

The two were on their way to a by election in Ainamoi constituency in Kericho County which had been occasioned by the fatal shooting of former MP Kimutai Too by a traffic police officer in Eldoret.

The crash occurred at Kojonga village in Narok North district. The plane's pilot and Kones' aide also perished in the incident.

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The Kones's and Laboso's families were on Sunday in shock as they received news of the demise of Saitoti and Ojodeh in circumstances similar to the ones that occasioned the departure of their loved ones.

Sotik MP Dr Joyce Laboso told The Standard on telephone that her family was preparing to hold private prayers for the late Lorna at their Marmanet home in Sotik when they received news of the Saitoti plane crash.

"It is shocking to us and the entire nation that the crash has happened on the same day that our loved ones died four years ago. We join the families of the departed in mourning," Dr Laboso said.

Mr Kevin Kones, the eldest son of the late Kones told The Standard on telephone that the family was holding a memorial service with relatives and neighbours at their Kaparuso home in Bomet on Sunday.

"We got the news of the plane crash that killed Saitoti and Ojodeh as we were preparing to hold memorial service for our late father (Kones) who perished with Lorna on June 10, 2008. It is indeed a very sad day for all the affected families," Kevin said.

The weather was gloomy when the Kojonga crash occurred, the same case as is today's incident with both having occurred in forests a few kilometers apart.

In the subsequent by election, Kones was replaced as Bomet MP by his eldest wife Beatrice while Lorna's elder sister Dr Joyce Laboso replaced her in Sotik.

Mrs Kones is the Home Affairs minister while Dr Laboso sits in the Speaker's panel.