jojo1977
10th Jun 2008, 17:25
From Nationmedia.com:
Ministers die in plane crash
Story by ANTHONY MACHARIA
Publication Date: 6/10/2008
A Cabinet minister is among four people who have died in a plane crash near Enosupukia in Narok District.
Roads Minister Kipkalya Kones. Photo File
Roads minister Kipkalya Kones and Home Affairs assistant minister Lorna Laboso were travelling in a light aircraft to Kones’ Bomet constituency in Kericho when the plane went down.
The other two aboard the plane were Kones’ aide and the pilot.
Mr Kones was an ODM Member of Parliament while Mrs Laboso -a first-time legislator- represented Sotik on an ODM ticket.
Contacted ODM spokesman Salim Lone confirmed that the Cessna plane had four people on board- Ministers Kones and Labosso, a security guard and the pilot.
“The plane left Wilson Airport headed for Kericho at three o’clock.”
He added: “Prime Minister Raila Odinga is shaken by the news.”
The plane with a pilot and three passengers crashed in Kojonga area near Narok town, about 220 kilometers (140 miles) southwest of Nairobi, said police spokesman Charles Otieno.
"The plane crashed into an unoccupied house and all the four people died," he told AFP.
Sotik member of parliament Lorna Laboso Photo by JOSEPH KIHERI
The plane, operated by Nairobi-based Flight Trade Limited, crashed at 3:00 pm after taking off from the capital's Wilson Airport.
"We are probing the cause of the crash,” he said.
The party has now lost four legislators since the 2007 General Election following the deaths of Mugabe Were (Embakasi) and David Kimutai Too (Ainamoi).
The death of the two parliamentarians comes just a day before by-elections are conducted in five constituencies: Embakasi, Kilgoris, Ainamoi, Wajir North and Emuhaya.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s wife said she was saddened by the news.
“A terrible loss to people of Kericho District, a terrible loss to womenfolk, I can only say pole, pole (sorry, sorry)”
She said that she was with the two ministers recently and that they were in good spirits.
ODM leader Raila Odinga has addressed a news conference to offer condolences to the families of the bereaved.
He has said that whilst his party is in shock after learning of the deaths of their colleagues, it will not be possible to put off Wednesday’s by-elections in five constituencies countrywide.
In turn, he has called on party faithful to turn out in large numbers to vote in ODM candidates.
President Kibaki has also mourned the death of the ministers, pilot Schner- Christopher and police officer Kenneth Bett.
He declared that the national flag will fly at half-mast until the four are laid to rest.
Ministers die in plane crash
Story by ANTHONY MACHARIA
Publication Date: 6/10/2008
A Cabinet minister is among four people who have died in a plane crash near Enosupukia in Narok District.
Roads Minister Kipkalya Kones. Photo File
Roads minister Kipkalya Kones and Home Affairs assistant minister Lorna Laboso were travelling in a light aircraft to Kones’ Bomet constituency in Kericho when the plane went down.
The other two aboard the plane were Kones’ aide and the pilot.
Mr Kones was an ODM Member of Parliament while Mrs Laboso -a first-time legislator- represented Sotik on an ODM ticket.
Contacted ODM spokesman Salim Lone confirmed that the Cessna plane had four people on board- Ministers Kones and Labosso, a security guard and the pilot.
“The plane left Wilson Airport headed for Kericho at three o’clock.”
He added: “Prime Minister Raila Odinga is shaken by the news.”
The plane with a pilot and three passengers crashed in Kojonga area near Narok town, about 220 kilometers (140 miles) southwest of Nairobi, said police spokesman Charles Otieno.
"The plane crashed into an unoccupied house and all the four people died," he told AFP.
Sotik member of parliament Lorna Laboso Photo by JOSEPH KIHERI
The plane, operated by Nairobi-based Flight Trade Limited, crashed at 3:00 pm after taking off from the capital's Wilson Airport.
"We are probing the cause of the crash,” he said.
The party has now lost four legislators since the 2007 General Election following the deaths of Mugabe Were (Embakasi) and David Kimutai Too (Ainamoi).
The death of the two parliamentarians comes just a day before by-elections are conducted in five constituencies: Embakasi, Kilgoris, Ainamoi, Wajir North and Emuhaya.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s wife said she was saddened by the news.
“A terrible loss to people of Kericho District, a terrible loss to womenfolk, I can only say pole, pole (sorry, sorry)”
She said that she was with the two ministers recently and that they were in good spirits.
ODM leader Raila Odinga has addressed a news conference to offer condolences to the families of the bereaved.
He has said that whilst his party is in shock after learning of the deaths of their colleagues, it will not be possible to put off Wednesday’s by-elections in five constituencies countrywide.
In turn, he has called on party faithful to turn out in large numbers to vote in ODM candidates.
President Kibaki has also mourned the death of the ministers, pilot Schner- Christopher and police officer Kenneth Bett.
He declared that the national flag will fly at half-mast until the four are laid to rest.