National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah strongly criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Parliament over his handling of the death of Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno.

Ng’eno died on February 28, 2026, in a helicopter crash in Nandi County that killed all six people on board. The Airbus H125 helicopter burst into flames after hitting the ground in a forested area near Chepkiep, Mosop Sub-County.

Ng’eno had attended an event in Endebess earlier that day. Minutes after the news broke, Gachagua addressed a rally in Nyahururu.

“Tumepata habari ya kwamba mjumbe wa Emurua Dikirr, pale Kipsigis, Johana Ngeno, ameaga dunia, kwa ajali ya helicopter,” Gachagua announced.

He described Ng’eno as a key leader in the Kipsigis community and a kingpin. Gachagua then called for a thorough investigation into what led to the death of the MP.

“We want to call for a very thorough investigation into the helicopter crash that killed the honourable Johana Ngeno.”

He asked the crowd to observe a minute of silence in Ng’eno’s honour. Gachagua later took it to X.

“I am very saddened by the news of the tragic death of Hon Johanna Ngeno, the MP for Emurua Dikirr, in a helicopter crash.”

“Hon Ng’eno was my very great friend who faced threats and intimidation as he was forced to hound me out of office. We remained the best of friends up to his death.”

Gachagua repeated his demand:

“I call for thorough and speedy investigations into the cause of the crash that must be made public.”

Majority leader fires back

In Parliament on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Ichung’wah condemned Gachagua’s actions.

“Even before the immediate family gets to know of the loss of a loved one, you are there in a political rally announcing their death. It’s shameful, Honourable Speaker.”

Ichung’wah described Gachagua harshly:

“ This is a dark man with a very black and dark heart and soul. Somebody who has no feeling, no respect for family, no respect for anybody. Somebody who has scavenged on anything, including death, to try and drive or get some political capital.”

He continued:

“Shame on you that you should use the departure of one of us to do your cheap ethnic-based politics or even imagine that you can incite one sub-tribe against another or one community against another.”

Ichung’wah noted he visited Ng’eno’s family that morning with the Speaker and saw their distress.

“Honourable Speaker, you were at Ngeno’s house this morning. You saw how distraught that family is. It’s sad that somebody who purports to be a leader, and I don’t know of what because he leads nothing, can use such an opportunity to be seen like you are celebrating the passing on of another human being. That is what a man with a black heart does. That is what those with dark souls do. And I say shame on them as we mourn our colleague and the five other Kenyans who lost their lives.”