A Kenya Forest Service (KFS) helicopter crashed on Monday afternoon while attempting to take off from Kericho Golf Club.
The aircraft had five people on board when the incident occurred. Reports indicated that Environment Principal Secretary Festus K. Ng’eno was among those aboard the helicopter.
KFS confirmed that all five occupants escaped the incident unhurt. Images obtained by Vantage Ke showed the damaged helicopter lying on a grassy field, with its tail section detached from the main fuselage.
Kericho County Police Commander Kivindu Kilonzo said the helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff after losing altitude before gaining significant height.
Images obtained by Vantage Ke showed the wreckage lying on a grassy field, with the tail section detached from the main fuselage.
The aircraft bore registration number 5Y-FSK and was painted green and white, consistent with Kenya Forest Service (KFS) identification markings.
Emergency responders and members of the public gathered at the scene following the incident.
KFS confirmed that the helicopter belonged to the agency and that all occupants had escaped unhurt.
Kilonzo added that emergency response teams and security personnel were examining the scene, noting that additional information would be provided as investigations progressed.
Other images from the location showed light rain, although the circumstances that led to the incident had not been established by the time of publication.
Further details regarding the cause of the crash and the events leading up to the incident were still awaited at the time of publication.
The incident comes two months after another helicopter crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County on August 19, killing all seven people on board.
According to the Air Accident Investigation Department, the helicopter lost control and caught fire after one of its landing skids struck a rock during a turn near the summit.
