Emurua Dikirr trading centre witnessed a rare spectacle as residents held a night vigil for six helicopter crash victims including the area Member of Parliament Johana Ng’eno.
The residents started the vigil on Tuesday, and will continue until Friday when the MP and some of the victims of the crash are expected to be buried in their respective homes.
A similar ceremony was also held in Kericho town on Monday night with thousands of residents turning up to mourn the fiery legislator who became a darling of the residents of Rift Valley region for championing the rights of the poor, the community and empowering musicians.
Residents of Dikirr light candles as they hold a night vigil at the shopping centre on March 3, 2026 in honour of the six people, among them their area MP Johana Ng’eno who perished in a helicopter crash on February 28, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Public address systems pelted out songs as the residents danced in memory of the MP who was the patron of artists from the Kalenjin community.
Those who died in the February 28, 2026 helicopter crash at Chepkiep village, Mosop constituency, Nandi county are – MP Johana Ng’eno, Mr George Were (pilot), Nick Kosgei (photojournalist), Amos Kipngetich Rotich (an officer with the Kenya Forests Service), Carlos Robert Kibet Keter (a teacher) and Wycliff Kiprotich Rono (a protocol officer at Narok county government.
Mr Eliud Chandaria Kigen, a resident of the area who led the vigil said the local community was devastated by the crash and were yet to come to terms with the reality that their MP and his friends were dead.
“It is unbelievable that Mr Ng’eno, the most prominent son of the constituency, has died, and with him went five other people in a helicopter crash whose cause is under investigation,” Mr Kigen said.
Residents of Dikirr hold a night vigil at the shopping centre on March 3, 2026 in honour of the six people, among them their area MP Johana Ng’eno who perished in a helicopter crash on February 28, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
“We will continue holding the vigil until Friday, when we lay our hero and his friends to rest. This is unusual for us, but it has to be done as a special tribute to the departed.”
The residents lit 200 candles to signify the number of years that the departed MP had repeatedly told the residents they would remember him for when his time to die came to pass.
“It is in public record that Mr Ng’eno said he will be remembered for 200 years when his time to die comes. We have decided that until he is buried, we will be lighting a similar number of candles as we hold prayers,” Mr Kigen said.
Ms Beatrice Langat, a resident of the area said it was unfortunate that four of the victims of the helicopter crash were from the area, with one from the neighbouring Bomet county and the other from Western Kenya.
“The death of our MP has rendered us orphans as no current or future leader from the region will fit his shoes. He was fearless, forthright and passionate about economic empowerment for his people” Ms Langat said.
Apart from Mr Ng’eno, those from the area are Amos Kipngetich Rotich, Carlos Robert Kipngetich Keter, and Wycliff Kiprotich Rono.
Residents held prayers during the vigil with some wailing around the streets of the small trading centre which also acted as the headquarters of Emurua Dikirr constituency.
“Emurua Dikirr was synonymous with our departed MP. He championed for its establishment which came to fruition ahead of the 2013 general election, where he was unanimously elected as the first legislator,” Mr Benard Ng’eno, a personal assistant to the fallen MP said.
Two elders hold a lit candle as they observe a one-minute silence during a night vigil at Dikirr shopping centre on March 3, 2026 in honour of the six people, among them their area MP Johana Ng’eno who perished in a helicopter crash on February 28, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
The MP, also popularly known as Ngong, went on to serve for three consecutive terms in the National Assembly before the fatal accident that brought his life to an end.
“He had a clear development agenda for residents and was passionate about education, land rights, human rights, economic empowerment and infrastructure roll out,” Bernard said in an interview on Tuesday.
The MPs home in Mogondo village has been a beehive of activities since Sunday, hosting residents, Members of Parliament, Members of County Assemblies, government officials, business community members, the clergy and elders.
Roads leading to the MPs rural home in Mogondo village are being graded ahead of the burial with a mass service expected to be held at Dikirr Primary School grounds for five of the victims before the bodies are released for burial on Friday.
