Kenyan minister killed in crash
Nairobi - A plane carrying four Kenyan government ministers crashed on take-off on Friday in the western part of the country, killing one of them and injuring two.
Labour Minister Ahmad Mohammed Khalif died along with two pilots in the crash in the town of Busia, Internal Security Minister Chris Murungaru told a news conference on Friday night in Nairobi.
The light plane was gaining speed for take-off when it hit a pothole on the runway, lost control and crashed into an electrical pole, Murungaru said. He said eight passengers and two crew were on board for the chartered flight to the city of Kisumu.
Witnesses claimed the plane took off, but failed to gain height and clipped electrical cables before crashing, Nation Radio reported.
Information Minister Raphael Tuju was seriously hurt in the crash, but was out of danger, Murungaru said.
Water Minister Martha Karua was slightly injured while the minister of state in the vice-president's office, Linah Jebii Kilimo, was uninjured. Two other members of parliament were also injured.
The Flying Doctors air ambulance service dispatched a plane and a helicopter to evacuate the injured to hospitals in Nairobi from Busia, 360km northwest of the capital, said a spokesperson.
The ministers have been on the job for only three weeks, having been sworn in after the National Rainbow Coalition swept to power in last month's general election.
They had flown from Nairobi to western Kenya to celebrate the party's victory over the Kenyan African National Union.
The crash comes with Kenya's newly-elected President Mwai Kibaki in hospital with complications from a campaign-trail car accident suffered in early December.
Airport officials in Nairobi said the aircraft belonged to leasing company African Commuter Services. Officials from the company were not immediately available for comment. - Sapa-DPA
Last edited by Gunship; 25th Jan 2003 at 10:40.