“It Took a Lot of Time”: Witness Recalls Moments Before Ruto’s PS Helicopter Crashed

An eyewitness has revealed the unusual events he observed moments before a helicopter carrying Environment and Forestry Principal Secretary Festus Ngeno crashed while taking off from Kericho Golf Club on Monday.

John Kebaso, who witnessed the incident, said the aircraft appeared to take longer than expected to gain momentum before lifting off. The helicopter later struggled to gain altitude, wobbled in the air and crash-landed on its right side.

According to Kebaso, the helicopter had initially landed normally at the golf club, where it remained for approximately 30 minutes before Dr Ngeno and four other occupants boarded.

However, the departure did not proceed as expected.

Kebaso said the pilot reportedly stepped out of the aircraft to inspect its tail before returning to the cockpit. The helicopter then remained on the ground for some time before attempting to take off.

“It took a lot of time to pick up momentum after the passengers whom we did not immediately identify boarded it,” Kebaso recounted.

He added that the aircraft crashed a few minutes after take-off, prompting people at the golf club to rush towards the scene.

Another eyewitness, Naomy Chepkoech, said some of the occupants managed to get out of the wreckage, while the pilot appeared to have sustained more serious injuries.

“There were four men and a woman on board at the time,” she said.

Alex Koech, another witness, expressed relief that the helicopter did not catch fire after hitting the ground, describing the incident as frightening.

The aircraft, registration number 5Y-FSK and owned by the Forestry Department, sustained extensive damage, with parts of its tail and body separating from the main frame.

Dr Ngeno was initially taken to South Rift Hospital in Kericho for a medical check-up before being transferred to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, according to sources familiar with the incident. The injured pilot was taken to South Rift Hospital for treatment.

Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Samuel Ndanyi confirmed that all five occupants survived, while Kericho County Police Commander Kivinda Kilonzo said investigations had begun, with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority expected to take over the inquiry.

Following the incident, Dr Ngeno expressed gratitude for the safety of everyone aboard.

“I thank God for our safety, and I am grateful that all Occupants on board the Helicopter survived the incident,” he said, thanking members of the public, colleagues and friends for their prayers and messages of support.

Investigations are expected to establish the precise circumstances that led to the crash.

Source: https://the-star.co.ke/news/2026-10-13-witnesses-recount-moments-before-kfs-copter-crashed

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