May 30, 2021 — A chopper, which flown the Kenyan former Prime Minister and ODM leader, Hon. Raila Odinga, from Kisumu to attend a function in Gem of Siaya County crashed on Sunday while trying to take off.
According to a press release from Hon. Odinga’s office, the chopper crashed following a save landing that dropped off the former Prime Minister and his accompanying officials at Kudho Primary School in Gem, Siaya County this afternoon.
“The former PM is safe following an incident in which a chopper that had flown him from Kisumu to Gem in Siaya County crashed shortly after dropping him and his entourage of four people,” Said Raila’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango.
Mr. Onyango confirmed that the Bell 407 registration 5Y-PSM had safely dropped off Mr. Odinga and four others but later crashed while trying to take off to give other choppers a chance to land.
The statement also confirmed that the chopper’s pilot Mr. Julius Mwambanga also survived with minor injuries.
Speaking to Kenyan media, Mwambanga said his choppers crashed after reaching about 5 meters above the ground and overturned on the left side.
“The chopper was about five metres from the ground when it went down. The chopper’s main and tail rotors were damaged.” The pilot said.
The former Prime Minister was accompanying President Uhuru Kenyatta and the duo continued with their function in Siaya county as scheduled.
The cause of the crash remains to be determined.
