VP helicopter in forced landing

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s charity mission to Uganda aborted when the helicopter he was travelling in developed mechanical problems.

Mr Musyoka, who was with three ministers, flew back to Nairobi in a different plane after the one he was in made an emergency landing in Kabarak, Nakuru.

In an ironic twist of fate, the Ugandan Prime Minister, Prof Apolo Musibambi, was involved in another helicopter crash at Bugiri in Eastern Uganda, as he was heading to the same function.

A passenger in Mr Musyoka’s helicopter said that as they approached Nakuru, the aircraft started swaying and a steward approached the VIPs to inform them that they would have to make an emergency landing at the Kabarak airstrip.

But Defence assistant minister David Musila downplayed the incident. “We were not shaken as we didn’t even know what was happening. We were just informed that we were to land,” he said.

Others on board were Special Programmes minister Naomi Shaban and assistant minister Mohamed Mahmoud. The two were to witness the handing over of relief supplies to victims of last week’s mudslide in Uganda.

At least 83 people were confirmed dead and hundreds are still missing after the tragedy. Many more have been displaced from their hillside homes. Defence spokesman Bogita Ongeri said the Kenya Air Force helicopter landed at an airstrip at retired President Moi’s Kabarak home.

The delivery of the food donations went on in Uganda as Kenya’s High Commissioner there and the Western Provincial Commissioner who were already on the ground were given a go head by the VP to continue with the function. Last week, President Kibaki ordered that the Special Programmes Ministry to donate food worth about Sh13 million to the victims.

Monday’s incident rekindled memories of another aircraft accident in which the then Labour minister Ahmed Khalif and two pilots were killed in Busia in 2003. A number of other passengers - who included at least three ministers - were injured.

And in 2006, Foreign minister Bonaya Godana, assistant ministers Mirugi Kariuki and Titus Ngoyoni, MPs Guracha Galgalo and Abdi Sasura and regional Assembly member Abdullahi Adan also died in a plane crash in Marsabit. In 2008, Roads minister Kipkalya Kones and assistant minister Lorna Laboso also perished in a air crash in Narok.

Meanwhile, the VP on Monday said the government was dedicated to building internet infrastructure to enable access to faster and affordable connections. The entry of optic fibre, he said, would enhance business outsourcing and software development. The VP was speaking at the opening of the 37th conference for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

Additional reporting by VPPS