POLICE Commissioner Major General Hussein Ali and Assistant Minister for Internal Security Mr Orwa Ojode and several senior government officials from the ministries of internal security and public works were injured in a police chopper accident in Kapsabet town.
The 12.30pm incident occurred after the Russian-made police chopper developed mechanical problems while taking off, lost power in the air before plunging in a nearby field. “The chopper developed difficulty after take off, stalled in the air and plunged into the field,” said Public Works Minister Chris Obure. Obure said Ojode, Ali and other occupants were taken to the nearby Kapsabet District Hospital and would be evacuated to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
“We had several senior government officers and security officers. It was a big team and we are praying for them,” said the minister. No casualties were reported. Rift Valley PC Hasan Noor Hassan, who was in the chopper, also escaped with minor injuries. Speaking to KTN from Kapsabet District Hospital, Ojode and Ali confirmed that they had sustained minor injuries and assured the public that they were safe. Obure said the team had just inaugurated Kapsabet police station and were heading to Tomboroa when the crash occurred.
A witness, Mr Josephat Koskei, said he saw the chopper wobbling in the air before it plunged in a field near the Kapsabet stadium. Koskei said a bang forced members of the public who had gathered to wave goodbye to the team to run for cover before a rescue team got to the scene. “It was a terrible site and blood curdling. We are praying that they are safe, but we saw some of them writhing in pain,” he said. The chopper was extensively damaged. A medical team on the ground said the injured government officials would be flown to Nairobi for further tests.
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