Principal Secretary for Environment and Forestry Festus Ngeno was among five people who survived a helicopter crash at the Kericho Golf Club on Monday after the aircraft reportedly developed mechanical problems during take-off.
The helicopter, registration number 5Y-FSK and owned by the forestry department, crash-landed moments after lifting off, leaving the aircraft extensively damaged. The pilot sustained injuries while Dr Ngeno was taken to hospital for a medical check-up.
Eyewitnesses said the helicopter appeared to struggle to gain altitude before becoming unstable in the air and tumbling onto its right side. The incident occurred around midday as light rain fell, prompting club workers and patrons to raise the alarm and rush towards the wreckage.
John Kebaso, who witnessed the incident, said the helicopter had landed normally and remained at the golf club for about 30 minutes before Dr Ngeno and other passengers boarded.
The helicopter that crash landed at Kericho Golf Club on October 12, 2026. Principal Secretary for Environment and Forestry Festus Ngeno was among five people on board the aircraft.
Photo credit: Winnie Chepkemoi | Nation Media Group
“It landed normally but when it took off with four passengers having boarded it, it was kept on for about 10 minutes before it took off. But after a few minutes, it crash-landed,” Mr Kebaso said.
Mr Kebaso said the aircraft did not take off immediately after the passengers boarded with the pilot first getting out to inspect its tail before returning to the cockpit.
“It took a lot of time to pick up momentum after the passengers whom we did not immediately identify boarded it,” Mr Kebaso said.
The helicopter appeared to wobble in the air before coming down, sending people at the golf club scrambling for safety.
Another eyewitness, Naomy Chepkoech, said some of those on board managed to jump 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.
Ms Chepkoech said she had witnessed many helicopters land at the golf club but could not recall a similar incident.
“We have seen so many helicopters land in this field but there has never been a case of crash-landing that I can remember,” she said.
“It is quite a miracle that the helicopter did not explode upon crash-landing. But it was a very scary moment, as no one had the guts to approach it immediately,” he said.
The helicopter was extensively damage with parts of its tail and body separated from the main frame. Its propellers were also badly damaged.
Police officers arrived at the scene a few minutes after the crash and moved in to control the crowd. Ms Mercy Korir said journalists who had been filming the incident were asked to leave as officers secured the area.
Dr Ngeno was initially taken to South Rift Hospital in Kericho for a check-up before being transferred to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, according to sources familiar with the incident.
The helicopter that crash landed at Kericho Golf Club on October 12, 2026. Principal Secretary for Environment and Forestry Festus Ngeno was among five people on board the aircraft.
Photo credit: Winnie Chepkemoi | Nation Media Group
Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Samuel Ndanyi confirmed that the helicopter had crash-landed while taking off at the golf club after developing mechanical problems.
“We have not recorded any fatalities but the pilot sustained some injuries and has been rushed to the South Rift Hospital in Kericho town for treatment,” he said.
He said the helicopter was carrying Dr Ngeno and other government officers who were in Kericho for an official function. The exact destination they were headed to had not been established by the time of this story’s publication.
Mr Ndanyi said officials were still gathering information about the incident and would provide an update once more details emerged.
Kericho County Police Commander Kivinda Kilonzo said investigations into the crash had begun with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority expected to take over the inquiry.
By Monday evening, Dr Ngeno had not publicly commented on the incident.
The crash comes a month after the death of six tourists and a pilot at Mt Ololokwe in Samburu County. The crash was caused by a landing-gear skid strike on a protruding rock during a sightseeing manoeuvre along the cliff face.
According to a preliminary report published by Kenya's Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID), "the collision instantly severed the landing-gear, causing the chopper to tumble down the steep mountainside and plunge for over 360 metres at the base of the cliff."
In February, former Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno and five other people died in a helicopter accident in Nandi County.
The February 28 crash in Chepkiep village, Mosop Constituency, claimed the lives of Mr Ngeno, pilot George Were, photojournalist Nick Kosgei, Kenya Forest Service officer Amos Kipngetich Rotich, teacher Carlos Robert Kibet Keter and Wycliff Kiprotich Rono, a protocol officer with the Narok County Government.
In August 2020, then Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe was forced to abandon a helicopter at the Kericho Golf Club and travel to Nairobi by road.
Former Chief of Defence Forces the late General Francis Ogolla.
Photo credit: File| Nation Media Group
Mr Kagwe had presided over a Covid-19 containment function at Ainamoi Sub-County Hospital hosted by then Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony, when the incident occurred.
On June 10, 2012, former Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and his assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh died in a helicopter crash.
Former Roads Minister Kipkalya Kones and Home Affairs assistant minister Lorna Laboso died in another helicopter crash on June 10, 2008 while in 2024 Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla died in a helicopter crash in the North Rift region.
Former ministers Bonaya Godana, Mirugi Kariuki and Titus Ngoyoni, alongside MPs Abdi Sasura, Abdulahi Adan and Guracha Galgalo, died in a helicopter crash in Marsabit in 2006.
