There was a scare on Sunday, evening after a chopper carrying OMD leader Raila Odinga from Kisumu to Gem in Siaya county crashed shortly after dropping him off.
The helicopter, Bell 407, registration 5Y-PSM safely dropped Raila at Kudho primary school but crashed when taking off to create space for other planes.
According to a statement from Raila’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango on Sunday, May 30, the incident occurred at about 4:30 pm but assured Kenyans that Odinga was safe.
“Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is safe following an incident in which a chopper that had flown him from Kisumu to Gem in Siaya County crashed shortly after dropping him and his entourage of four people,” Onyango said.
Onyango further said that there were no fatalities as the pilot and four others who were onboard escaped with minor injuries.
The former prime minister had been accompanied by local leaders including Kisumu governor Anyang Nyong’o where President Uhuru Kenyatta was to commission the Wagai-Akala road.
A police report filed at Akala police station and seen by Kivumbi.co.ke said the plane had taken off about five meters high when it crashed.
“When he (the pilot) was only about five meters from the ground, the aircraft went down and overturned on the left side,
“As a result, the trail rotor and the main rotor got damaged,” police said in a report.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands that this is the second time former prime minister has cheated death from the airplane.
Several years ago, Raila escaped death after he refused to board a chopper together with other government officials including George Saitoti and Orio Ojode.
The chopper then crashed after taking off where all the passengers on board lost their lives.
