Deputy President William Ruto's pilot, Captain Mario Magonga, and four American nationals were killed when a helicopter crashed in Lake Turkana on Sunday evening, according to official statements.
The National Police Service confirmed the accident occurred at 8:00 PM on Sunday at Central Island National Park, resulting in the deaths of all five people aboard. The wreckage and bodies were discovered by search teams at 4:00 AM on Monday.
Magonga, a former military pilot from Kisii County, was a first cousin to local MP Richard Onyonka. Turkana County Deputy Commissioner Alexander Motivo stated that two helicopters had arrived at Lobolo Tented Camp earlier in the evening, but one failed to land and crashed into the lake.
"The group intended to travel to Central Island on Monday but one aircraft went missing and did not reach Lobolo," Motivo said. Security personnel are assisting with recovery efforts, while the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
