Environment PS Festus Ng’eno Injured as KFS Helicopter Crashes in Kericho

KERICHO, Kenya — Environment Principal Secretary Festus Ng’eno was among those injured when a Kenya Forest Service helicopter crashed shortly after take-off at Kericho Golf Club on Monday, 12 October 2026.

The helicopter, registration number 5Y-FSK, came down on the golf club grounds as heavy rain was reported in the area. The aircraft sustained extensive damage, with photographs from the scene showing its tail section separated from the main body.

Kericho County Police Commander Kivindu Kilonzo confirmed that occupants were injured and taken to hospital. Initial reports indicated that there were no fatalities.

The incident raises fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the conditions under which the aircraft attempted to take off. However, the cause has not been established, and the reported rainfall should not be treated as a confirmed cause of the accident.

What happened at Kericho Golf Club?

The helicopter reportedly lost altitude shortly after beginning its take-off from the golf club grounds, near Famous Hotel in Kericho town.

According to reports by Citizen Digital, the aircraft had not climbed far before it came down. Emergency responders and security personnel were sent to the scene, while the injured were taken for medical attention.

Early reports differ on the number of people aboard the helicopter. Citizen Digital reported that five people were on board, while other initial accounts also gave varying figures. The final number of occupants and the full extent of their injuries require confirmation from the relevant authorities.

Ng’eno’s presence aboard the aircraft was reported by multiple Kenyan news outlets. Further official information on his condition, as well as that of the other occupants, would help establish the full impact of the crash.

Fresh scrutiny after fatal aviation accidents

The Kericho incident comes less than two months after a helicopter crash near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County killed all seven people aboard.

On 19 August 2026, an Airbus EC130 B4 operated by Lady Lori (Kenya) Limited crashed during a flight involving tourists. A preliminary investigation report released by Kenya’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Department in September found that the helicopter’s landing-gear skid struck a rock formation during a low-level manoeuvre near the mountain’s summit.

The aircraft then descended the mountainside and went over a cliff. The investigation into that accident remains ongoing.

A separate crash on 18 September killed a student pilot and a flight instructor after a light aircraft operated by the Kenya School of Flying went down in the Kipeto area of Kajiado West. Police cited poor visibility caused by morning mist as a possible contributing factor in preliminary accounts.

These accidents involved different aircraft and circumstances. They do not, on their own, establish a common cause or demonstrate a wider failure in Kenya’s aviation safety system. However, they underline the importance of thorough investigations into each incident and the publication of findings that can help prevent future accidents.

Investigators face key questions

The immediate priority in Kericho is to establish the condition of everyone aboard and determine what caused the helicopter to crash during take-off.

Investigators will need to examine the wreckage, establish the aircraft’s operational history and assess the circumstances immediately before the crash. Weather conditions may form part of that assessment, alongside any mechanical or operational factors supported by the evidence.

Kenya’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Department is responsible for investigating aircraft accidents to establish their causes and contributing factors, with the aim of improving aviation safety.

As of the latest reports available for this story, the cause of the Kericho crash had not been confirmed. No conclusion should be drawn about mechanical failure, pilot error or the effect of heavy rain before investigators establish the facts.

The investigation’s findings, together with an official update on the occupants’ condition, will be central to establishing what happened at Kericho Golf Club and whether any safety lessons need to be acted upon.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.