A section of Rift Valley MPs want a thorough investigation conducted to establish what caused a helicopter crash that killed Deputy President William Ruto’s pilot and four American tourists.
Four legislators David Pkosing (Pokot South), Nelson Koech (Belgut), Gideon Keter (Nominated) and Joyce Korir (Bomet County) said Kenyans deserve to know what caused the accident in Turkana County that involved a chopper belonging to DP Ruto.
Ruto’s official pilot Captain Mario Magonga was flying the aircraft at the time it crashed. The passengers onboard the ill-fated chopper had visited Lobolo Tented camp on the island’s national park.
Speaking separately to The Standard, the lawmakers maintained that it will be important for the public to be told the reason behind the crash, so as to rule out any possibility of foul play in the incident.
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Pkosing, who is also the National Assembly Transport Committee chairperson slammed the Air Accident Investigation Division of Kenya (AAID) for always dragging their feet in probing air crashes, and said they expect the agency to act quickly this time round.
“The department which is under the ministry of Transport is under the radar of my committee. They have been very slow and ineffective in the past. We will not them go easy if they do not give us answers on what caused the Turkana crash,” said Mr Pkosing.
“As a committee, we will summon the management of AAID if they do not give us satisfactory answers,” he added.
Pkosing colleagues from the South Rift Koech, Keter and Korir were more candid, warning that the State cannot afford to take the matter lightly, since DP Ruto has been under siege politically in the recent days.
The three close allies of Dr Ruto said the pilot of the aircraft Mr Magonga was a highly qualified individual.
“If it was indeed an accident we need to be told what caused it. It will be important for an investigation to be conducted and the results made public so as to rule-out the possibility of any foul play,” explained Mr Koech.
“We need a full detailed report on the cause of the crash,” demanded Mr Keter who explained that the report will assist the aviation industry to avert any future crashes.
“Family members of those who died in the accident also deserve to know what killed their kin,” said Ms Korir.
