By CYRUS OMBATI
Four aviation experts from France and South Africa have joined a team constituted to probe the Ngong helicopter crash that killed six.
The team, which include two from South Africa and two from France, will join the panel to be headed by Court of Appeal judge Justice Kalpana Rawal and is expected to start its work next Monday.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the two experts from South Africa are led by Mr Chris Brier and represent the families of the deceased.
Manufacturer
The other two represent the manufacturer of the plane Eurocopter and the French government each.
The PM who was accompanied by the Attorney General Githu Muigai said the team is set to be gazzetted today before being sworn in tomorrow by the Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga.
Their terms of reference were given out and according to Dr Muigai, they may start their work by Monday.
The PM also said that it is only the Minister for Transport Amos Kimunya who will be the spokesman of the probe.
The team was expanded to 13 members. They include Justice Rawal as chair and assessors Maj-Gen (Rtd) Harold Tangai, Maj (Rtd) Charles Muyehe Wandiri, Capt Peter Maranga and Mr Fredrick Aggrey Opot.
Assisting counsels for the team will include Charles Mutinda, Faith Irari of the AG’s office and James Mungai Warui of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions while Clatus Macowenga, the chief inspector of aircraft accidents will form part of the technical team with the foreigners.
Inquest
Raila said the inquest was established and conducted under the Civil Aviation (investigation of accidents) regulations as a public inquiry.
It is not clear how long the team will take to finish its work in probing what caused the crash of the helicopter Eurocopter AS350B3 on June 10 in the morning but Raila said the Government would implement all the recommendations made.
“We cannot really say how long they will take because of the nature of their investigations but we assure Kenyans and the families of the deceased and interested parties that the report will be made public and act on the recommendations made,” he said.
Apart from the two ministers, Prof George Saitoti and Orwa Ojode, pilots Luke Oyugi and Nancy Gituanja and bodyguards Joshua Tonkei and Thomas Murimi also died in the crash.
Yesterday, Dr Muigai asked for public assistance in probing the crash saying anyone with information or document on the incident should present it to the authorities.
“It is an open and public inquiry and we want all those with information that can assist us to come forward and assist us,” he said.
He added the families of the deceased have been legally represented in the panel to probe the crash but added those dissatisfied are free to contact his office for further help.
