A helicopter carrying Environment Principal Secretary Festus K. Ng’eno crashed at Kericho Golf Club in Kericho County on Monday afternoon amid heavy rains, leaving several occupants injured.
Kericho County Police Commander Kivindu Kilonzo confirmed that no deaths had been reported following the accident. However, several people on board sustained injuries and received emergency assistance at the scene. Ng’eno was among the six people travelling in the helicopter, registration number 5Y-FSK, when it went down shortly after takeoff.
Witnesses said the aircraft had barely gained altitude before it suddenly lost height and crashed. The incident happened during a period of heavy rainfall in the area, raising concerns about the weather conditions at the time of the flight.
Rescue teams quickly pulled the injured passengers from the wreckage before rushing them to South Rift Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Emergency responders and security officers also moved to the scene to assess the situation and coordinate the response.
Kilonzo confirmed that authorities were still examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, with further details expected as investigations progress. Officials had not immediately established the exact cause of the accident.
The Kericho incident comes amid growing concerns about aviation safety in Kenya following two other helicopter and aircraft crashes reported in recent months.
In August 2026, a helicopter crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, killing all seven people on board. The Eurocopter EC130 B4 was carrying tourists, including prominent international figures such as Ecuador’s intelligence chief, when it struck a rock formation near the summit and burst into flames.
The September 2026 crash in Kajiado West Sub-County added to the country’s aviation safety concerns. A light training aircraft operated by the Kenya School of Flying crashed in the Kipeto area, killing both a student pilot and a flight instructor.
Police reports linked the Kajiado West accident to poor visibility caused by heavy morning mist, highlighting the risks pilots face when operating in unfavorable weather conditions.
Although authorities have yet to establish what caused the Kericho helicopter to crash, the heavy rainfall reported in the area will be among the conditions requiring examination during the investigation.
Investigators are expected to establish what happened during the helicopter’s takeoff, while aviation stakeholders await further details on the condition of the injured passengers and the circumstances that led to the crash.