Scare as Raila’s chopper crashes at school grounds
By People Reporter, May 31, 2021Eric Juma
There was a security scare yesterday after a plane, which had ferried opposition leader Raila Odinga to Gem constituency in Siaya county crashed moments after dropping him off at Kudho primary school.
The chopper, a Bell 407 belonging to Nairobi-based Peniel Air Services, was attempting to take off after dropping the ODM leader at the school near Wagai trading centre where he was scheduled to join President Uhuru Kenyatta during the commissioning of the Wagai-Akala road in the county.
Raila had boarded the plane from the Kisumu airport shortly after 3pm for the short trip to the neighbouring Siaya county.
Uhuru and his delegation, on the other hand, boarded two Kenya Air Force helicopters to the venue.
A statement from Raila’s spokesman Dennis Onyango said the plane crashed after dropping the former premier and his entourage at Kudho primary school in Gem constituency.
“Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is safe following an incident in which a chopper, that had flown him from Kisumu to Gem in Siaya county crashed shortly after dropping him and his entourage of four people,” said Onyango.
Minor injuries
He noted that the chopper crashed after attempting to lift off to create space for other planes.
“The helicopter, Bell 407 Registration 5Y-PSM, had dropped Raila at Kudho Primary School in Gem when it attempted to lift off to create space for other planes,” Onyango explained.
“Unfortunately, it crashed. There were no fatalities as the pilot and four others, who were on board escaped with minor injuries.
Mr Odinga successfully proceeded with his scheduled activities with the President.”
A police statement stated that the accident happened at 4.30pm at Kudho primary school in Usenge village, Onyinyore sub-location in Gem constituency.
It added that the incident was reported by Captain Julius Mwambanga of Peniel Air that he was taking off after dropping off Raila, who had accompanied President Uhuru on an official visit to commission the Wagai-Akala road.
“When he was about five metres from the ground, the aircraft overturned to the left side,” read the statement.
“As a result, the tail rotor and the main rotor got damaged (at the) rear,” it added.
The statement stated that the captain was not injured but his passenger, identified as Peter Mbeka, suffered minor injuries and complained of chest pains.
Witnesses said the plane seemed to have had difficulties while dropping off Raila and his delegation.
“The blue chopper seemed to have been struggling before it finally landed and the dignitaries alighted.
It stayed behind as the two military aircrafts, that had dropped off the President and his team took off,” said a witness.
Siaya county police commander Michael Muchiri confirmed the incident, noting that one passenger had been rushed to a nearby hospital for precautionary checkup but the pilot was safe.
“It is true the chopper that brought Raila had a mishap and crash-landed but the pilot is safe while the passenger was rushed for treatment,” said Muchiri.
He revealed that the chopper was damaged and its tail rotor and the propeller cut off following the impact.
“The crash landing impact caused the propeller to cut off,” said Muchiri, adding that local residents were several metres away from the school grounds.
At the time of the accident, Raila and the President had already left the scene for Wagai trading centre, about 10km away, where they commissioned the road.