Six Injured After Helicopter Carrying Environment PS Crashes in Kericho

A helicopter transporting Environment Principal Secretary Festus K. Ng’eno crashed at Kericho Golf Club on Monday, October 12, 2026, leaving six people aboard the aircraft injured.

The incident occurred in Kericho County during heavy rainfall, prompting an emergency response as authorities moved to assist the occupants and establish the circumstances that led to the crash.

Kericho County Police Commander Kivindu Kilonzo confirmed the incident, stating that no deaths had been reported. However, several occupants sustained injuries and required medical attention.

According to information obtained by Citizen Digital, Ng’eno was among the six people travelling in the helicopter, which bears the registration number 5Y-FSK.

Witness accounts indicate that the aircraft had only climbed a short distance after take-off before it lost altitude and crashed at the golf club.

The injured occupants were rescued from the wreckage and transported to South Rift Hospital for treatment. Emergency responders and security personnel subsequently began assessing the scene as officials sought to establish the sequence of events leading to the accident.

Authorities had yet to provide a comprehensive account of the incident, including the precise cause of the crash and the extent of the injuries sustained by those aboard.

The presence of heavy rain in the area has drawn attention to the weather conditions at the time of the accident. However, it remains unclear whether the weather directly contributed to the helicopter going down. Investigators will need to establish the relevant circumstances before determining the cause.

The crash comes against the backdrop of other aviation accidents reported in Kenya in recent months, raising fresh concerns about the safety of air travel, particularly when weather conditions are unfavourable.

In August 2026, seven people died when a helicopter crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC130 B4, reportedly struck a rock formation near the summit and caught fire. Those aboard included tourists and prominent international figures.

Another fatal accident occurred in September 2026 in the Kipeto area of Kajiado West, involving a training aircraft operated by the Kenya School of Flying. The crash claimed the lives of a student pilot and a flight instructor. Reports indicated that poor visibility caused by heavy morning mist was among the factors considered in that incident.

The Kericho accident adds to the list of aviation incidents that have prompted renewed attention to aircraft operations and safety procedures in the country.

Investigations into the Kericho Golf Club crash are expected to establish what caused the helicopter to lose altitude shortly after take-off. Authorities are also expected to provide further updates on the condition of the injured occupants as more information becomes available.