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1. President Uhuru Kenyatta
President Uhuru Kenyatta and the National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, are among wealthy Kenyans who own some of the 50 helicopters registered by civil aviation authorities.
And the battle for the August 8 elections will clearly be fought in the skies if the number of choppers seen in major public events, including political rallies, is anything to go by.
Helicopters associated with President Kenyatta are among those politicians have leased as campaigns ahead of the August General Elections continues to heat up.
2. Kirinyaga Woman Representative Purity Ngirichi
Kirinyaga Woman Representative Purity Ngirichi leased and branded a chopper owned by the Kenyatta family for a record eight months.
She caused a stir when she arrived at the burial of the late Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua in the chopper. Dozens of similar choppers turned the otherwise sombre event into a spectacular show of might.
Ms Ngirici hired the aircraft, a 5Y JNM, last December, for use in her campaigns from Flex Aviation- the firm managing the aircraft on behalf of the Kenyattas. A helicopter is reportedly hired at about Sh150,000 an hour, according to people who are closely involved in helicopter leasing.
Normal rates are Sh180,000 per hour but long-term leasing attracts significantly lower charges, sources told The Standard.
3. Raila Odinga
Raila’s owns a Eurocopter, which he is seen using regularly in his campaigns.
4. William Ruto
Uasin Gishu gubernatorial aspirant Bundotich Zedekiah Kiprop (Buzeki) hired and branded William Ruto’s three choppers in his campaigns ahead of Jubilee primaries, which he lost to the incumbent Jackson Mandago.
5. Peter Kenneth
Sources at KCAA confirmed most of the branded choppers are owned by the more established politicians. They include Peter Kenneth, who will be contesting the Nairobi governorship as an independent candidate after losing Jubilee nominations to Senator Mike Sonko.
6. Musalia Mudavadi
NASA co-principal Musalia Mudavadi is among the wealthy politicians who own choppers. The registration number of his Eurocopter is 5Y TXM.
7. Nicholas Biwott
Former Cabinet minister Nicholas Biwott owns two similar choppers operated by Wilson Airport-based Air Kenya.
8. Jimmy Wanjigi
Meanwhile, official records indicate that businessman Jimmy Wanjigi also owns a chopper that is regularly hired by politicians.
9. Simeon Nyachae
Former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae also owns a chopper. Aircraft Leasing Services manages Nyachae’s Eurocopter, registration number 5Y HSN. HSN in the registration number stands for Honorable Simeon Nyachae.
10. Mwai Kibaki
Retired President Mwai Kibaki also owns a helicopter whose registration number is 5Y FWE. The aircraft was acquired about four years ago. Kibaki is reported to have acquired another chopper in 2013.
