A helicopter Bell 407 with registration 5Y-PSM that flew ODM leader Raila Odinga to Siaya county crashed shortly after at 4:30pm on Sunday. This happened after dropping Raila and his entourage of four marking a lucky escape on the first day of the Head of State’s three-day visit to Nyanza.
The chopper dropped Odinga at Kudho Primary School in Usenge village, Onyinyore Sub-Location, South Gem location and when it attempted to lift off to create space for other planes, it crashed.
Odinga had accompanied the Head of State for the commissioning of the Wagai-Akala road where President Uhuru Kenyatta launched development projects.
The ODM leader, accompanied by other leaders including Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o, had received the President at Kisumu International Airport where he arrived shortly after 3pm before they left in separate choppers for Gem, Siaya County.
Odinga’s spokesman, Dennis Onyango, said the former Prime Minister was safe following the incident.
There were no fatalities as the pilot and one passenger who was on board escaped with minor injuries.
“Odinga successfully proceeded with his scheduled activities with the President,” he said.
Captain Julius Mwambanga of Pieniel Air that ferried the ODM leader reported the incident at Akala Police Station.