Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has launched a fierce attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his remarks concerning the death of former Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno.
Murkomen accused Gachagua of exploiting the deaths of Ng’eno, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla to revive what he described as a failed political career.
Gachagua had claimed that intelligence in his possession pointed to possible irregularities involving the fuel used to refuel the helicopter before it crashed.
He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s movements and called for further investigations into the former MP’s death..
In a response, Murkomen questioned why Gachagua had waited for more than five months before raising the allegations, noting that Ng’eno’s family was still grieving.
“Hon. Ng’eno passed on more than five months ago. His family and friends are still grieving and still trying to come to terms with the devastating reality of his sudden death. So let me ask you plainly: Mr. Gachagua, where have you been all this time? You have never called Ng’eno’s family. You have never visited to condole with them. Not once,” Murkomen said.
The CS also challenged Gachagua to identify the individuals he claimed were connected to the alleged fuel irregularities and submit the information to investigators.
Gachagua had alleged that an unusual vehicle transported jet fuel from Lodwar to Eldoret, where the helicopter was reportedly refuelled. He further claimed that a KRA official and a police officer had questioned the driver before allegedly being instructed to release him.
Murkomen maintained that his ministry does not supervise fuel supplies or air transport, arguing that Gachagua should therefore direct any evidence to the appropriate investigative agencies.
“You claim you have intelligence about an ‘unusual car’ that allegedly carried the jet fuel and about a driver who was briefly arrested by KRA officials. Mr. Gachagua, why don’t you make their names public? Why are you protecting them? Why not hand over identities and statements to the investigators, or record a proper statement with the DCI?” Murkomen asked.
The Interior CS further pointed to preliminary findings that attributed the crash to bad weather, citing accounts from residents of Chepkiep in Nandi County who reportedly witnessed the pilot make an emergency landing while waiting for weather conditions to improve.
Murkomen accused Gachagua of using Ng’eno’s death, alongside the deaths of Raila Odinga and General Francis Ogolla, to generate political relevance.