- What started as a routine chartered helicopter trip ended in tragedy after a crash that left six people dead in Chepkiep, Mosop Constituency, Nandi County
- A Eurocopter 350 helicopter crashed on Saturday, February 28, after reportedly making an emergency landing before bursting into flames
- While officials are analyzing what happened, TUKO.co.ke gives you the identity of the deceased along with Emurua Member of Parliament Dikirr Johanna Ngeno
An ordinary chartered helicopter turned into a national tragedy on Saturday afternoon when it crashed in Chepkiep area of Mosop Constituency, Nandi County, killing six people.
Source: Facebook
The plane, a Eurocopter 350, registered as 5Y-DSB and operated by Youth Aviation Ltd, had taken off from Wilson Airport in Nairobi at 11:02 am.
The witness remembers the last moments of the helicopter before the tragedy
Around 4:45 pm, after a reported emergency landing due to heavy rain and poor visibility, it caught fire.
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According to eyewitnesses, bad weather conditions, especially heavy fog and poor visibility, may have played a major role in causing the accident.
They explained that the helicopter lost stability and crashed shortly after trying to take off again after an emergency landing.
“There was a heavy fog. We heard the helicopter trying to make an emergency landing. It headed for the forest and managed to land, but the passengers seemed shocked after the crowd gathered. One of them signaled the pilot to leave, and the plane immediately took off. We heard it crash just two minutes later,” one of them said.
The witnesses further added that the helicopter hit several trees, scattering all the passengers in different directions after the collision.
One passenger initially appeared to have survived, but his breathing became weak and short-lived, as he tragically died shortly after the crash despite efforts to help him.
“We found one passenger still breathing and tried to revive him, but it was all in vain as he died shortly after. We started shouting, and more people rushed to the scene,” the witness added.
As the investigation into the accident continues, TUKO.co.ke is sharing the identity of those who died in the accident, giving a human face to the tragedy.
Member of Parliament Johanna Ngeno
Among those killed was Johanna Ng’eno, the Speaker 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 Ukraineearning 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 Agency between 2008 and 2012.
First elected in 2013, he was serving his third consecutive term, after being re-elected in 2017 and 2022.
Authorities confirmed that her cell phone and SIM card were found at the crash site, a grim reminder of a life cut short.
His body was taken to the morgue of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) before being transferred to the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi.
Captain George Were
At the controls of the helicopter that crashed was pilot George Were, an experienced pilot entrusted with the lives of those on board.
His colleagues described him as a dedicated and professional person, accustomed to dealing with the harsh climate of Kenya.
However, on a gloomy Saturday evening, the weather surpassed his knowledge.
Amos Kipngetich Rotich
Also among the dead was Amos Kipngetich Rotich, an officer of the Kenya Forestry Service, who was working at the Migori Forestry Centre, Kehancha outpost in Migori County.
Known to his friends as a dedicated conservationist, Rotich, KFS number 06821, had dedicated 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 Area, Transmara Sub-County, Narok County.
Nick Kosgei
Nick Kosgei, a journalist and photographer, was another missing person. Through his lens, he captured stories across the country, documenting moments of triumph and struggle. On this trip, he was part of a story he would never tell.
A few hours before the accident, 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 God’s help while dealing with the challenges of the video, an explanation that has since left many questioning luck that horrible bad.
Kosgei’s death has caused shockwaves on social media, with colleagues and friends paying their respects as they struggle to come to terms with his sudden death.
Master Carlos Keter
Carlos Keter was a young teacher who was recently hired by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) after years of job hunting.
That long wait finally came to an end in January 2026 when his local Member of Parliament, Ngeno, intervened and brought him into the system.
He never lived to receive his first salary, as tragedy struck when the accident killed them both, replacing the promise of a new beginning with sadness.
Those who knew him remember a man who never lost faith in his profession. Teaching was not just a job for him; you were his purpose.
National Mourning
Each victim had a story: a congressman with rural roots, a pilot given life insurance, a forest officer protecting the environment, and a journalist preserving history.
Their last trip ended in what has become a national tragedy, but the impact they had on their ministries, professions and communities lives on.
Following the tragedy, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced that the parliamentary team led by Julius Melly, assisted by Mugambi Rindikiri and eight other Members, would coordinate the funeral arrangements.
Meanwhile, the crash is now being investigated by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
As officials piece together what went wrong in space about Nandi, families across Kenya are grappling with an unbearable truth: behind every aviation figure are names, faces and unfinished stories.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
