Latest news with #Kiambu
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
6 killed in air ambulance crash just outside Kenya's capital
A plane belonging to an air ambulance service provider crashed in a residential area just outside Kenya's capital on Thursday, killing at least six people, according to a local official and the aircraft's owner. AMREF Flying Doctors said that the mid-size jet, a Cessna Citation XLS, took off from an airport in Nairobi and was heading to the territory of Somaliland when it crashed. The service provider didn't provide the number of casualties or a possible cause, saying in a statement that it was 'cooperating fully with relevant aviation authorities and emergency response teams to establish the facts surrounding the situation.' The plane crashed in the residential area of Mwihoko in Kiambu County, which shares a border with Nairobi. A local official, Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula, told reporters at the scene that four people on board were killed in the crash. Two other victims were inside a house into which the plane crashed, he said. The Kenya Red Cross said that its rescue teams headed to the crash scene in Kiambu, a county that shares a border with Nairobi. Earlier, the Kenya Red Cross had said that the aircraft that crashed was a helicopter.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Helicopter crashes just outside Kenya's capital
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A helicopter with an unknown number of people on Thursday crashed into a residential area just outside Nairobi, the Kenya Red Cross said. Rescue teams were heading to the scene in Kiambu, a county that shares a border with Kenya's capital, the nongovernmental organization said. The local Star newspaper reported that the crash prompted 'a swift response from authorities.' Military and police personnel 'quickly arrived at the scene and secured the area,' the paper reported. There were no more immediate details from officials.
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Old image causes confusion over convicted ex-Kenyan leader's whereabouts
Former Kenyan governor Ferdinand Waititu was sentenced to prison on corruption charges in February 2025. But an image recently shared on social media shows Waititu at a hair transplant clinic, and not in jail as expected. However, this is misleading; the image predates Waititu's conviction and subsequent imprisonment. 'Former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu, who is supposed to be in jail, spotted at a hair transplant clinic,' reads a Facebook post published on July 20, 2025. The image shows Waititu and a man in blue scrubs and a surgical cap, standing in a room in front of a sign that reads 'Artistic Hair Transplant Center'. Similar claims were published elsewhere on X (here and here) and Facebook (here and here). Waititu, the former governor of Kenya's Kiambu county, was impeached in January 2020 on charges of gross violation of the constitution, crimes under the national law and abuse of office (archived here). In February 2025, he was remanded and sentenced to a fine of Ksh 53.7 million ($413,490), or in default, 12 years in prison, for charges involving a Ksh 588 million ($4,527,600) graft case. He was also barred from vying for any political seat for 10 years (archived here and here). Waititu was first charged in the corruption case in July 2019 (archived here). Despite appealing his conviction and seeking release on bond pending appeal, Waititu has had his applications denied by the High Court twice and is being held at Nairobi's Kamiti maximum security prison (archived here, here and here). However, the image purportedly showing the former governor recently at a hair transplant clinic is old. Old image AFP Fact Check conducted reverse image searches and found that the image was published on Instagram by 'Artistic_Hair_Centre' on July 20, 2025 (archived here). 'Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, thank you for trusting Artistic Hair Transplant Centre,' reads the post. The post led some to question if Waititu had been released from prison, as it was not clear when the photo was taken. In response, the clinic clarified: 'This photo was taken before any legal issues. We shared it to show real results from our work nothing more. We focus on professionalism, not personal matters.' Speaking to local media outlet Tuko, Jared Kimwaga, the doctor photographed with Waititu, said that he handled Waititu's hair transplant procedures in February and October 2024 (archived here). He explained that he had not seen the ex-governor since October 2024 and that the photo was reposted to showcase the kind of clients the clinic handles. AFP Fact Check contacted Kimwaga, and he reiterated: 'It is an old photo that has been used out of context. I performed two hair restoration procedures on the former governor twice last year. The recent photo was for promotional purposes.' A look at the clinic's website shows that they have promoted their work with other politicians, including former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko, though the photos are not dated (archived here). There is no credible evidence to suggest that Waititu has been released from prison.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
George Koimburi: Kenyan MP found in coffee farm after alleged abduction
A Kenyan member of parliament who was allegedly abducted by unknown men after a church service on Sunday is being treated in hospital after being found on a coffee farm, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said. George Koimburi had been "badly beaten" and was in a "very serious condition" at the Karen Hospital in the capital Nairobi, Gachagua added.A vocal critic of the government, Koimburi is allied with Gachagua, who was impeached by parliament and removed from office last year after falling-out with President William Ruto. The alleged abduction has sparked outrage, with the opposition accusing the government of intimidation. It has not yet commented on the allegation. Police said they were investigating the incident, local media reported.A motorcycle rider who first found Koimburi early on Monday morning is said to have alerted other people and his family, the reports added added. A widely shared video clip showed the MP lying on the ground, his clothes dishevelled and seemingly in Sunday, Koimburi's wife told reporters that they were outside church, in his Juja constituency in central Kiambu county, when he was grabbed and bundled into a was reportedly found at a coffee farm in the nearby Ruiru constituency, less than 10km (six miles) from where he had been allegedly after visiting him in hospital, Gachagua accused the government of targeting legislators who took a "vocal stand against the government".There has been a wave of abductions in Kenya since mass protests against tax hikes broke out last year. The government has previously denied involvement in the kidnappings. Prominent opposition politician Kalonzo Musyoka said that opposition officials would meet on Tuesday to "assess the current state of political harassment and intimidation in the country by the Kenya Kwanza [governing] regime".He raised concerns over how an MP, who was entitled to security by the police, could "get abducted in broad daylight". "It means Kenyans are on their own," Musyoka February, Koimburi was arrested and charged with forging his academic qualifications. He denied the charge and was released on are reported to be also investigating him over allegations of land fraud and misuse of government funds. He denies any alleged abduction came weeks after MP Charles Ong'ondo Were was shot dead in the streets of Nairobi by gunmen on a said several suspects had been arrested following what appeared to be a "targeted and predetermined" Kenyans are alarmed by the deteriorating security situation. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights says that more than 80 people have been abducted since mass protests broke out last June against an increase in taxation, in what was the biggest challenge to the authority of President William Ruto's government since it took office in 2022. The commission blamed the abductions on state security agencies, but they denied any this month, Ruto said the government had taken action to prevent further abductions, but did not give details. You may also be interested in: Pressure mounts to probe Kenya police and army after BBC exposéAbductions spark fears of a return to Kenya's dark past'We live in fear' - forced expulsions taint Kenya's safe haven imageKenyan minister alleges intelligence agency behind his son's abduction Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
