Crack crash puzzle, CJ tells team

Attorney General Githu Muigai (left) during a news conference after the swearing in on members of a team to probe the helicopter crash that killed six government officials including Internal Security minister George Saitoti and his assistant Orwa Ojode. On the right is Chief Justice Willy Mutunga. EMMA NZIOKA

What you need to know:

  • Mutunga asks members to work without fear or favour and find out truth behind chopper accident

The team set up to investigate the helicopter crash that killed two ministers and four police officers must come up with the truth about the accident.

Speaking during the swearing-in of its members, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga said “this team must be alive to the history of probes and inquiries of similar nature, which have been used as a whitewash”.

The team, he said, must note the strong underlying public concerns on the crash, “which it must address directly and steadily without cowering or intimidation… It must restore public confidence in public inquiries”.

Led by Appeal Court Judge Kalpana Rawal, the team includes leading civil aviation officers and a former Kenya Airforce Commander.

The helicopter crash on June 10 killed Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and his deputy Mr Joshua Orwa Ojodeh.

Two pilots — Capt Nancy Gituanja and Capt Luke Oyugi and bodyguards Sgt Thomas Murimi and Insp Joshua ole Tonkei also died in the crash.

Attorney-General Githu Muigai and Transport Minister Amos Kimunya, who appointed the team, were at the swearing-in ceremony.

The CJ asked the team not to deepen the grief of the families affected through shoddy work, urging them to be forthright in their conduct, professional in their operations and courageous in work and findings.

“To do otherwise will be an unforgivable assault to justice, to families and an indefensible dereliction of duty to the country, and an irredeemable dishonour to self,” he told them.

Justice Rawal said families of the victims are free to participate in the investigations, or to appoint representatives.

“We want to assure the public that open, thorough and transparent investigations will be conducted and a report will be ready in the earliest time,” Prof Muigai added.

Mr Kimunya also noted that foreign investigators including the helicopter manufacturers, their government and insurance will be party to the investigations.