They were our breadwinners, hope: Families tell stories of 4 victims in Ng’eno chopper crash

Four of the victims who died in a plane crash with Emurua Dikirr Member of Parliament Johana Ng’eno were in various stages of settling their families, who looked up to them to change their fortunes.

Family members gave moving testimonies of the big dreams and plans their loved ones had for them before they boarded the ill-fated helicopter that crashed on February 28, 2026, in Mosop, Nandi County.

Families of Nick Kosgei (photojournalist), Amos Kipngetich Rotich (Kenya Forest Service officer), Carlos Robert Keter (a teacher) and Wycliff Kiprotich Rono (a protocol officer at Narok County government) gave moving tributes of their loved ones.

President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula and his Senate counterpart Amason Kingi, Head of Public Service Felix Kosgei, Cabinet secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen and Davis Chirchir, and Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu led mourners in the funeral service at Emurua Dikirr Primary School in Narok County on Friday.

When he spoke, President Ruto promised to ensure the needs of the four families, who were banking on the four victims of the crash, will be met. He also pledged Sh2 million for each of the families.

President Ruto said the government will assist the affected families to complete the work started by their loved ones.

He also promised employment opportunities in the government for relatives of the four, who had completed courses related to those their fallen siblings had studied.

Nick Kosgei - Photojournalist

Mzee Phillip Kosgei, the father of photojournalist Nick Kosgei, moved the mourners to tears as he revealed that he had no land to bury the remains of his son as he had not completed paying for the plot which the family occupies.

“I have nowhere to bury my son who had hardly settled in his job and had promised that he would resettle us. He was in the process of paying fees (Sh400, 000) for his younger sister. That has gone up in smoke,” Kosgei said.

Mr Bett Kimutai, the brother to the photojournalist, revealed that the family sold land to educate him as they all banked on him to turn their lives around. The land they live on at Kipkebe village, Silibwet in Bomet Central constituency, has not been fully paid for.

“Nick was the breadwinner for the family; he was our shield and source of strength. He had a big heart and put the interest of others before his own,” Bett said.

He added: “The family used all the resources, including selling land, to educate Nick (in secondary school and at Maseno University) so he could change the family fortunes, but he has died before fulfilling his dream.”

President Ruto promised to fund the construction of the family home.

Amos Kipngetich Rotich – KFS officer

Mr Richard Langat, the uncle to Amos Kipngetich, a Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officer who was employed hardly three years ago, said he had huge responsibilities as the breadwinner of the family.

“At 23 years, and the second-born in the family, he was already educating his siblings — one in university and two in secondary schools — with his mother entirely dependent on him,” Mr Langat told the mourners.

He said: “The mother has lost a breadwinner as she was dependent on him to change the family fortunes. The loss is devastating to the family.”

Ms Nancy Kokwenye, the mother to the deceased (Amos), said he was constructing a house for her when the incident occurred, which may not be completed now, and the education of his siblings was at risk.

“Amos’ death is very painful to us as a family. When the news broke, I asked God why he took him instead of me. I was better off dead than him,” Nancy said as she temporarily lost composure while mourners broke down in tears.

President Ruto promised to educate one child, and asked MPs Brighton Yegon (Konoin) and Nelson Koech (Belgut) to educate one child each.

“Can it really be hard for you? No. if it becomes so, reach out to me,” Dr Ruto said.

Carlos Robert Keter – A teacher

“We are gathered here with heavy hearts as Carlos was not just a name, but a pillar of our family. He put the interests of others before his own,” Mr Emmanuel Keter, the brother to the deceased, said.

Emmanuel said: “We will forever cherish the moments we shared together. His love remains in our hearts forever.”

He said securing jobs for family members would enable them to fit into the shoes of their brother who died in the crash before he could report to his workstation, having been employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as a teacher.

It emerged that he had made arrangements for a house to be constructed for his mother and, on the same morning, he paid a timber merchant to deliver the construction materials.

Ms Grace Mutai (Carlos’ mother) said her son was the pillar of the family even when he was not employed and that he was paying fees for his siblings while working as a teacher employed by the Board of Management at Kaplong Girls High School in Bomet County.

She revealed that she played a key role in reconciling him with the MP with whom he perished in the helicopter crash.

“Carlos drank milk in a gourd when he arrived home at 4:00am from a meeting with the MP. I did not sleep that day as the speeches given at the meeting carried very deep messages,” Grace said.

Before he left home the following morning for a trip to Trans Nzoia with the MP, the family prayed with him.

“We prayed for him before he left; little did we know it would be the last time seeing him alive. I have finally come to terms that my son and the others are dead. May they rest well,” Grace said.

Mr Kilelson Mutai, the uncle to the deceased, revealed that Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kipchumba Murkomen paid the university fees balance for Carlos to enable him graduate from Moi University.

“Carlos was the hope of the family and represented a future for them. The family will have to adjust to life without the breadwinner,” Mr Mutai said.

President Ruto announced that Carlos sister, also a trained teacher, will be employed by the Teachers Service Commission on a permanent and pensionable basis.

Wycliff Rono – Protocol officer, Narok County government

Ms Lydia Rono, the widow, said her husband Wycliff Rono was a hardworking man who loved his family and was loyal to his friends.

Ms Rono said the burden of taking care of the family — with four young children — had befallen her, yet she is jobless.

On that day, the teacher-turned-protocol officer at the Narok County government bade his family goodbye at around 11:00am and headed to Mr Ngeno’s home, where they flew to Trans Nzoia but did not return.

President Ruto directed Head of Public Service to employ his widow in the agriculture ministry, after the family said she has a degree related to that field.

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