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Emotional send-off for photojournalist killed in helicopter crash
A banner of Nick Kiplangat Koskei, a photojournalist who died in a helicopter crash with five others. His funeral was held at Kipkebe village, Bomet central constituency, on March 7, 2027.
It was a tearful send-off for photojournalist Nicholas Kiplangat Koskei, who, along with five others, died in a helicopter crash in Nandi County a week ago.
Koskei died alongside his boss, Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno, the pilot of the ill-fated helicopter, George Were, Wycliff Rono, a protocol officer at the Narok County Government, Amos Kipngetich Rotich of the Kenya Forest Service and Carlos Robert Keter, a teacher. The accident occurred on February 28, 2026, at Chepkiyep village in Mosop Constituency, Narok County.
Silenced shutter: One of the cameras used by Nick Kiplangat Koskei, a photojournalist who died in a helicopter crash with five others, lies at the head of the coffin during the funeral service at Kipkebe village, Bomet Central constituency on March 7, 2027.
During an emotional ceremony at Kipkebe village in Silibwet location, Bomet Central Constituency relatives, friends and colleagues described the journalist as a friendly and generous man.
The 25-year-old photojournalist graduated from Maseno University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Media Technology.
While at the university, he served as the head of news at Equator Radio.
He honed his skills at NTV and KBC during his attachment while still at the university. After graduating, he undertook an internship at the County Government of Bomet before later being employed by MP Johana Ngeno as a communications officer.
“Nick was a young man with great ambition, a bridge between his family members, and a professional who was beginning to make his mark in his field and in the world,” said Mr Bett Kimutai, the elder brother of the photojournalist.
Nick Kiplangat Koskei's family members during his funeral at Kipkebe village, Bomet County, on March 7, 2026.
“Though Nick’s camera shutter has closed too soon, the ‘photographs’ of his kindness, academic and professional achievements, and his bright, wide smile will forever be ingrained in our hearts and minds,” he said while speaking on behalf of the family.
Colleagues of the multi-talented photojournalist said he had a unique way of telling stories through the lens of his camera.
“Nick, as he was popularly known, was honest, hardworking, focused, disciplined, and an all-rounded professional,” said Mr Edwin Makiche, the chairman of the Bomet Journalists Association.
Makiche, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues during the ceremony, said the media fraternity had lost a professional whose star was clearly rising and whose absence would be difficult to fill.
Mr Bernard Ngeno and Ms Rose Kositany, personal assistants to MP Ngeno, said Nick was passionate about his work and always gave his best. This dedication made him very close to his boss, with whom he died in the helicopter crash.
“Through his camera lens, the world saw both the good and challenging moments of MP Johana Ngeno and the development taking place in Emurua Dikirr Constituency,” Ms Kositany said.
Nominated Senator Joyce Korir (left), Bomet Central MP Richard Kilel, Julius Rutto (Kesses), Senator Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Hillary Sigei (Bomet), Bomet Woman Representative Linet Chepkorir and Kapseret MP Oscar Saudi (right) at the funeral service for photojournalist Nick Kiplangat Koskei on March 7, 2026, at Kipkebe village, Bomet county.
Mourners braved heavy rainfall that pounded the area in the afternoon as family members, relatives, colleagues qnd leaders eulogised a man whose life was tragically cut short at a young age.
Among those who attended the funeral were Senators Hillary Sigei (Bomet), Kiprono Chemitei (Baringo), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Joyce Korir (Nominated).
Also present were Bomet Woman Representative Linet Chepkorir; Members of the National Assembly Richard Kilel (Bomet Central), Victor Koech (Chepalungu), Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Richard Yegon (Bomet East), Reuben Kiborek (Mogotio), Brighton Yegon (Konoin), and Julius Rutto (Kesses), as well as former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto.
Mr Ngeno (MP), Wycliff Rono, Carlos Robert Keter and Amos Kipngetich Rotich were laid to rest on Friday. President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and the Speaker of the County Assembly led 94 Members of Parliament in attending the funeral service held at Emurua Dikirr Primary School grounds.
The pilot, George Were, who has been described as a highly experienced professional with 40 years of aviation experience, has not yet been laid to rest.
Governors Patrick Ntutu (Narok), Hillary Barchok (Bomet), and Erick Mutai (Kericho) have called for thorough investigations into the incident to dispel rumours circulating in the public domain that the helicopter may have been sabotaged.
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