When Wycliffe Rono, 34, hurriedly bade his family goodbye last Saturday, he was in high spirits.
Wycliffe, a former teacher turned protocol officer at Narok County government, had been summoned by Emurua Dikirr Member of Parliament Johana Ngeno for a trip to North Rift for an empowerment program.
The family did not know that was the last time they’d see him alive. They received news of his death five hours later.
Those who died in the February 28, 2026, helicopter crash at Chepkiep village, Mosop constituency, Nandi county are – MP Ngeno, Mr George Were (pilot), Nick Kosgei (photojournalist), Amos Kipngetich Rotich (an officer with the Kenya Forests Service), Carlos Robert Kibet Keter (a teacher) and Wycliff.
Speaking to the Nation at their home in Judeah village, Elkerin ward, Emurua Dikirr in Narok county, the family of the late Wycliffe Rono said they were shattered by the loss.
Wycliffe has left behind a jobless widow – Lydiah Rono – a Rongo University graduate who now has the responsibility of bringing up their children.
“At around 11:00 am, I met my brother leaving the homestead in a hurry. He said he was flying to Trans Nzoia County with the MP, Johana Ng’eno,” Mr Bernard Rono, the younger brother of the deceased, said. “We expected, as usual, that he would return in the evening after the day’s events. But we were shocked to learn that he had died in a helicopter crash.”
The family received information about the crash through social media and is yet to come to terms with the reality of the loss of their loved one.
“Wycliffe was the breadwinner of our family as he was the only one with a white collar job. We were entirely dependent on him to support the family and he had big plans which have now been shattered,” Mr Rono said.
Mr Rono, who was flanked by his sister, Miriam Boit, said the family was appealing to the government to employ the widow, a university graduate, so she could fill the shoes of her departed husband.
“The widow needs a lot of support to bring up her four children and take care of the needs of the family in a manner her late husband did,” Ms Boit said.
Elkerin Member of the County Assembly Ezekiel Kiprono said the death had robbed the family of their main income earner.
“News of the helicopter crash was very devastating to the families involved. Unfortunately, Emurua Dikirr lost three residents casting a dark cloud in the area. The families affected require a lot of support,” Mr Kiprono said.
The MCA called for calm in the area and political tolerance until the funeral is conducted.
A politician – Johana Langat Kamilan – who was a fierce critic of the MP who died in the crash, was beaten by youths during a function at Mr Ng’eno’s home,
Kamilan was frog-matched out of the home as police fired in the air to disperse the youths and stop them from further injuring the helpless politician.
A requiem mass for the six helicopter crash victims will be held on Wednesday in Nairobi, with a similar ceremony planned for Thursday at Emurua Dikirr primary school grounds.
President William Ruto is expected to join the mourners during the send-off of the former MP on Friday at Mogindo village.
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