Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, raised fresh questions over the death of former Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno, alleging that contaminated fuel may have contributed to the helicopter crash that killed him and five others.
Speaking his address to the nation dubbed, “Ruto at 4 years”, Gachagua made the claims while demanding answers over what he described as unresolved circumstances surrounding the plane crash.
The helicopter crashed at Chepkiep in Mosop, Nandi County, on February 28, 2026, killing Ng’eno, the pilot and four other people. Investigations into the crash were subsequently taken over by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department.
Gachagua alleges fuel irregularities
Gachagua said he had intelligence indicating that, after Ng’eno was dropped at Endebess, the helicopter travelled to Eldoret to refuel.
He alleged that the pilot was unaware that the fuel being supplied had been transported from Lodwar.
“On the fateful day, after NGENO was dropped at Endebess, the helicopter went to fuel in Eldoret. The pilot didn’t know the fuel he was about to put in had been transported to the scene from Lodwar,” Gachagua said.
He further claimed that Kenya Revenue Authority officials noticed an “unusual car” that had transported the jet fuel.
According to Gachagua, the vehicle was intercepted and its driver questioned. He said the driver told officials that he had transported the fuel from Lodwar.
Gachagua then alleged that the KRA official and police officers at Eldoret airstrip were instructed from Nairobi to release the driver.
“Immediately, this KRA official and the police at Eldoret airstrip were instructed from Nairobi to release the driver if they cared about their lives,” he said.
Gachagua questions Murkomen
Gachagua linked the alleged fuel problem to the helicopter’s performance before the crash.
“It is this fuel that caused the chopper not to pick up altitude; that is why the pilot first came down and tried again to pick up altitude,” he said.
He then questioned what Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen knew about the alleged events at Eldoret.
“What did Murkomen know about the people who called this KRA officer and the police at Eldoret airstrip officials?” Gachagua asked.
He also called on the Kenya Airports Authority to release CCTV footage from the facility on the day of the incident.
“Can KAA produce the CCTV cameras of the facility on the fateful day?” he asked.
Gachagua’s claims come despite preliminary accounts that pointed to adverse weather around the time of the crash. Witnesses reported that the helicopter had made an emergency landing after encountering poor weather before attempting to take off again.
Investigators have continued examining the circumstances of the crash, with critical aircraft components later sent to France for further analysis.
