Helicopter carrying DP Gachagua forced to make emergency landing
The helicopter carrying DP Gachagua forced to make an emergency landing in Njoro due to bad weather
The helicopter carrying DP Gachagua forced to make an emergency landing in Njoro due to bad weather.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday morning was forced to make an emergency landing at a school, due to what his team described as “bad weather.”
The incident has reignited debate over the availability and reliability of official transport for Kenya’s second-in-command, following recent controversies surrounding the alleged withdrawal of military helicopters previously at his disposal.
Gachagua, who was en route to a memorial service in Njoro for the late David Chepkwony, husband of Njoro MP Charity Kathambi, was travelling with his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi. The couple’s helicopter landed prematurely at Nduriri Primary School, cutting short their journey to the event at Kimugul Primary School Grounds in Mauche Ward.
The Deputy President, known for his straightforward communication, addressed the unexpected landing with a mixture of humour and resolve.
“Since I was born, I have never set foot here,” Gachagua quipped in Kikuyu, before adding, “I was coming from Eldoret, going to Nakuru for a function. The pilot told me that the plane cannot go any further.”
Despite the abrupt change in plans, he assured those present, “We were able to land, and I decided to come and see my people.”
However, the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing have sparked speculation.
Gachagua’s team remained tight-lipped on the specifics, offering no further explanation beyond the mention of adverse weather conditions.
The Deputy President’s office also refrained from commenting on whether the incident was connected to the ongoing issues regarding his official transport.
The Head of Communications at Gachagua’s office Njeri Rugene in a phone interview refrained from issuing any details but confirmed no one suffered any injuries.
She also confirmed that Gachagua and his wife were able to proceed to Kimugul Primary School Grounds and later in the afternoon took a flight to Juja, Kiambu County for a wedding ceremony of Paul Wetosi and Shiru Koimburi, daughter of Juja MP George Koimburi.
This latest episode follows a public incident in June where Gachagua was forced to apologise to President William Ruto after arriving late to the Akorino National Prayer Conference in Nakuru. On that occasion, Gachagua, who had arrived aboard a private chopper, was nearly an hour behind the President, allegedly due to the last-minute withdrawal of planned transport.
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The controversy over Gachagua’s access to official transport escalated further when the former Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale withdrew Gachagua access to military choppers and announced that a repurposed Ksh2 billion police helicopter would soon be allocated to the Deputy President.
The rebranded Augusta Westland chopper, originally acquired in 2017 for police surveillance, is set to be handed over to Gachagua within weeks, following reconfiguration.
This move comes after Gachagua’s earlier request for a Kenya Air Force plane was reportedly declined due to unavailability.
In response, the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, directed the Inspector General of Police, Japheth Koome, to relinquish one of the three grounded Italian-made Augusta Westland (AW139) choppers for the Deputy President’s use.
Despite the assurances from government officials, the ongoing transport issues have led some to question whether the Deputy President is receiving the full support and resources befitting his position.
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