Kenya Air Force Plane that killed 14 people aboard including six members of parliament, an undersecretary of the office of the President, the then Kirinyaga district Anglican church Bishop, national administrative officers, Police and Kenya Army crew members.
In the wee hours of 10th April 2006, Harbin-Y12, a Chinese make turboprop twin engine plane belonging to Kenya Air Force left Nairobi for Marsabit. The plane was ferrying a delegation of peace makers to the war torn region for a peace conference.
Among those on board were Kirinyaga district Anglican Church bishop William Waqo, North Horr Member of Parliament Bonaya Godana, Saku Member of parliament Abdi Sasura, Moyale Member of Parliament Guracha Galgallo, Laisamisis Member of Parliament Titus Nyagoni, East African Community Member of Parliament Abdullahi Adan, Mirugi Kariuki, officials from Office of the President, Eastern Province Provincial Commissioner, Police and Kenya Air Force crew members.
The peace makers drawn from parliament, executive, religious organizations and national administration were attending the first peace conference after leaders of three warring communities, that is the Borana, Gabra and Rendile, agreed to have a sit down and sort out the contentious issues between the three communities.
Unfortunately, the peace conference was called off a few minutes after 10:00AM following a report of the Chinese make helicopter accident that was ferrying the peace ambassadors.
According to an eyewitness who witnessed the incident at Marsabit National Park, the helicopter went into flames before landing on the ground.
The then Government Spokes Person, Alfred Mutua, said that bad weather had caused the accident. According to Mutua, bad weather around Marsabit Hills reduced visibility leading to the unfortunate incident.
Out of the 17 people that were aboard the Harbin-Y12 twin engine Turboprop Kenya Air Force Helicopter, only three people survived. Those who survived were two Kenya Air Force crew members and Eastern Province Provincial Commissioner Patrick Osare. All the six members and other senior government officials that were aboard the plane perished.
