Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has eulogised the late Captain George Were as a highly experienced pilot whose professionalism and dedication to aviation earned him great respect.

In a post on his official X account on Saturday, March 14, 2026, the PS, who attended the burial ceremony in Kabienge, Nyakach Sub-county, Kisumu County, represented President William Ruto.

George Were was the pilot of the helicopter that crashed in Nandi County on February 28, 2026, killing six people, including Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno.

“Joined the family, friends and colleagues of the late Captain George Were during his final send-off at their home in Kabienge, Nyakach Sub-county, Kisumu County, where I also read the H.E. President William Ruto’s message of condolences,” PS Omollo said.

On his part, Omollo explained that his death in the tragic helicopter crash that also claimed five other lives was a profound loss to the nation.

“Captain Were was a highly experienced pilot whose professionalism and dedication to aviation earned him great respect. His death in the tragic helicopter crash that also claimed five other lives, among them the Emurua Dikirr MP, Hon. Johanna Ng’eno, is a profound loss to the nation,” he explained.

“My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all who mourn him. May the Captain now find calm skies beyond the clouds and soar with the angels,” he added.

The helicopter, registered 5Y-DSB, crashed and burst into flames in the Chepkiep area of Mosop, Nandi County.

The tragic helicopter crash claimed the lives of six individuals: Johana Ng’eno – Emurua Dikirr MP, George Were – the pilot, Nicholas (Nick) Kosgei / Nick Koskey – the MP’s personal photographer, Amos Kipngetich Rotich – a Kenya Forest Service officer, Robert Kipkoech Keter (Carlos Keter) – a teacher, and Wycliffe Kiprotich Rono – a protocol officer with Narok County government.

The Nandi helicopter crash

The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) announced that the bodies of those who died in a chopper crash in Nandi were extensively burnt beyond recognition.

CEO of the hospital, Dr Philip Kirwa, said none of the bodies could be easily identified because of the extent of the damage.

“The bodies are in a very bad shape and cannot even be viewed at the moment,” said Kirwa.

He added that specialists would work on the bodies before viewing is allowed. He spoke at the mortuary, where the bodies were taken for preservation following the accident in Nandi.

At the time, a sombre mood engulfed the mortuary as leaders and hundreds of people turned up to receive the bodies. They were led by Governors Jonathan Bii, Stephen Sang, and Wisley Rotich, along with Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei and several MPs.

Ng’eno was laid to rest on Saturday, March 6, 2026, at his Mogondo home in Narok County.