Deputy President William Ruto's Pilot, Four US Citizens Perish in Helicopter Crash

Deputy President William Ruto’s pilot Captain Mario Magonga has died following a helicopter crash in Turkana County.

Police say Magonga perished alongside four American tourists during the Sunday evening crash.

The chopper crashed at Central Island National Park in Lake Turkana, killing all the five occupants on board.

“Security personnel dispatched to the scene confirmed that among the five were four Americans and the Kenyan Pilot,” says the National Police Service in a statement Monday morning.

Police have launched an investigation into the 8 pm crash whose cause is yet to be established.

“Available information indicates that two helicopters had landed earlier at Lobolo tented camp on the National Park’s Island, however one managed to clear the area safely,” the NPS adds.

“Security personnel dispatched to the scene confirmed that among the five were four Americans and the Kenyan pilot.”

Captain Magonga is a former Kenya Defence Forces pilot and has been flying DP Ruto and other high-profile personalities.