Sad day for Kenya, but hard questions linger

June 10 will forever be a black day in Kenya’s history. The anniversary of the deaths of MPs Kikplaya Kones and Lorna Chepkemei Laboso in a plane crash in Enoosupukia in 2008 has claimed six more lives.

Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti and his loyal assistant Orwa Ojode who was his staunchest defender in Parliament on matters to do with national security died after the helicopter they were travelling crashed soon after takeoff.

Also killed were the pilot, co-pilot and bodyguards. The deaths of Saitoti and Ojode bring to 11 the number of MPs killed in plane crashes since the Narc government brought President Kibaki to power in 2003. They include the six who died in Marsabit in 2006 and MP Ahmed Khalif, who was killed in a crash in Busia in 2003.

Others are Mirugi Kariuki, Bonaya Godana, Guracha Galgalo, Abdi Sasura and regional assembly member Abdullahi Hassan.

Sunday’s deaths hit particularly hard as both Saitoti and Ojode were among the few ministers who enjoyed a seamless working relationship.

They were longtime friends in and outside the house, and in fact Saitoti trusted Ojode so much that the latter was the face of the Internal Security Ministry in Parliament, answering tough questions on behalf of his boss, and always with a smile and hearty laugh at the end.

Answering to the nickname “Serikal” (“government” in Luo language) to his colleagues, he would sometimes playfully chide them not to interrupt his statements in Parliament on points of order when “the Government is on its feet”, in reference to himself.

Saitoti will best be remembered for his famous quote: “Sometimes the nation is more important than the individual”.

He was to repeat the same while speaking at St Dominic Catholic Church in Mwiki on June 3 when he warned that aspirations of the founders of the coalition that brought down the Kanu government was sabotaged by selfish politicians.

“Greed for power is what killed the dream that Kenyans so believed in. We are now back to the same challenges when we should be dealing with other issues,” said Saitoti.

Parliament will sorely miss the two leaders who were still in their prime, but who will never get a chance to complete any of the grand plans they had for the police as well as their constituents, friends and families.

But we must also remember the pilots and bodyguards who died with them in the line of duty. They left behind families who are undergoing plenty of emotional turmoil, plunged into the depths of sadness and hopelessness by the cruel hand of fate that robbed them of husbands, fathers and breadwinners.

Harrowing image
That the helicopter Saitoti and Ojode boarded developed a problem was confirmed by eyewitness accounts who saw smoke billowing from the aircraft just before it crashed. The harrowing image of the helicopter on fire in the air was already doing the rounds on social media site Facebook, long before television and newspaper camera crews could file their own photos.

What were the final thoughts of the pilots and their passengers as the chopper plunged to its fiery end?
We will never know, but the truth is that their experience and knowledge will not be easily replaced given their long years of service.

This raises the question of Government protocol for travel by senior State officials. In future, it would be advisable that ministers, their assistants and permanent secretaries do not travel together in the same aircraft unless absolutely necessary.

The dangers of this became glaringly obvious to all in 2003 after newly appointed Labor minister Ahmed Khalif and two pilots died in the Busia crash. They had just come from celebrating Funyula MP Moody Awori’s homecoming.

Ten other senior State officials on the ill-fated chartered flight, including Cabinet ministers Martha Karua, Raphael Tuju, Linah Jebii Kilimo and assistant ministers Njeru Githae and George Khaniri were lucky to walk away with injuries.

While the country mourns Saitoti and Ojode, questions still abound over the age of the helicopter that crashed, its record of service and why it was cleared to fly when weather conditions were the least ideal.

In fact, the entire fleet of the Kenya Police Air Wing must be examined afresh to establish safety of the aircraft. Government must make full disclosure of all these to rest any doubts. Yesterday’s was a tragic accident that no one could have possible predicted.

However, as things stand, it might be advisable for ministers and other senior State officials to avoid using police aircraft until their airworthiness is certified.

This matter gains added urgency given that the Eurocopter AS350B3e Ecureuil helicopter that killed Saitoti, Ojode, the pilot and three others yesterday was a recent acquisition by the Kenya Police Air Wing from Eurocopter Southern Africa (Pty).

It can also be said that Kenya has paid a costly price in human terms for the corruption that killed projects meant to provide the police with up-to-date equipment.