Ecuador Intelligence Chief and Miami Business Leaders Killed in Samburu Crash

Seven people, including a Kenyan pilot and an Ecuadorian intelligence chief, were killed when a helicopter crashed on Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County on the morning of 19 August.

The victims included Kenyan pilot Josh Outram, director of African Heli Adventures. He was widely respected for his experience flying in northern Kenya and had promoted the use of helicopters to provide access to remote tourism destinations. Outram had described the region as having “mind-blowing landscapes that most people in Kenya don’t realise exist”. 

His death is a major loss to Kenya’s tourism and conservation sectors. Among the international victims were Ecuador’s intelligence chief, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan Yeaza, who held dual Ecuadorian and American citizenship. Ecuador’s government confirmed their deaths and issued a statement of condolence. 

Sensi-Contugi was a close associate of President Daniel Noboa and had recently been appointed head of the National Intelligence Centre. The crash also killed several Miami-based business leaders. They included José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of Telemundo stations in Florida; Roger Duarte, founder of George Stone Crab; Adam Hlavaty, co-founder of Mrkt Group; and aviation software executive Henry Parra.

Suárez was remembered by colleagues as an energetic and compassionate leader. Statements from the families and employers of the victims expressed deep grief, describing the loss as “impossible to comprehend”.

The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC130 B4 operated by Lady Lori, crashed while attempting to land on Mount Ololokwe. The site is popular with tourists because of its panoramic views of the Matthews Range and its sunsets. Local tour operators have said strong winds frequently affect the summit, while warning signs have been installed to alert pilots to the risks.

Samburu County Police Commander David Nkoroi said investigations into the cause of the crash were continuing. Recovery efforts have been complicated by the difficult terrain. The incident has also prompted false reports online that veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli narrowly escaped the crash. Atwoli rejected the claims, describing them as “lazy and fake stories” and saying he had no connection to the flight.

An earlier prophecy by Nigerian cleric Primate Elijah Ayodele warning Kenya to pray against a plane disaster has also resurfaced online. Some of his followers have linked the statement to the Samburu crash, although the claims remain disputed.