In 2009, President Mwai Kibaki survived helicopter crash at Marani shopping centre minutes after takeoff in an incident that raised questions about his security.
A jovial president had just launched a series of projects in the vast Gusii region which apparently had played a significant role in his reelection in 2007.
Minutes after takeoff, Kibaki's military helicopter could be seen releasing fumes which made onlookers raise alarm in what could save the president from a possible crash.
"It had just taken off and we realised fumes coming from its combustion engines. Certainly, we started making noise as I raised a red flag to tip the pilot," says Timothy Ochieng'i.
He adds: "I was off duty in Suneka airstrip and luckily, I had my red flag which we usually use in the airstrips during takeoffs. The pilot was quick to notice."
A visibly tensing president was evacuated from the military helicopter by the presidential security which arrived in few minutes time.
Unlike his successor Uhuru Kenyatta, Kibaki did not often use military helicopters when traversing the country just like his predecessor Daniel Moi.
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