A helicopter crash in Turkana County on Sunday evening resulted in the deaths of Deputy President William Ruto’s pilot, Mario Magonga, and four American tourists, according to official statements.
The incident occurred at Central Island National Park in Lake Turkana, where the aircraft crashed around 8 p.m., killing all five people on board. The wreckage and bodies were discovered the following morning at approximately 4 a.m.
Police Spokesman Charles Owino confirmed that among the victims was the Kenyan pilot, stating, "Last evening at about 8 p.m., a helicopter crashed at Central Island National Park in Lake Turkana, killing all its five occupants on board. Security personnel dispatched to the scene confirmed that among the five were four Americans and the Kenyan Pilot."
Turkana County Deputy Commissioner Alexander Motivo described how the group had been en route to Central Island, located 75 kilometers from Lake Turkana’s shores. "The tourists were set to travel on Monday to Central Island but one plane went missing and it didn’t land at Lobolo," he said, noting that the aircraft had been seen approaching Lobolo Tented Camp earlier that evening.
The American visitors had previously stayed at Lobolo Tented Camp before departing by helicopter, which subsequently crashed during their return journey.
