Mourners at the burial of Anthony Kipyegon in Eldama Ravine. [Photo: Susan Kihika/facebook]
The burial of one of the Lake Nakuru chopper crash victims took a new twist on Saturday when a speaker claimed that laxity led to death of those aboard.
Kibet Komen, who was an MP aspirant for Rongai constituency in 2017, said Antony Kipyegon would not have died had divers responded quickly to the tragedy.
The youthful politician blamed Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyajui claiming he had declined a quick response by Naivasha divers.
The remarks were made at Eldama Ravine where Kipyegon was laid to rest.
There were also claims that during a prayer rally on October 22, a day after the crash and which President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto attended, the governor refused a request to honour the victims. "During the national prayers meeting at Afraha Stadium, Governor Lee refused a request by Susan Kihika for those in attendance to have a one minute silence, " Komen said. The remarks were however seen as precipitated by 2022 Nakuru gubernatorial politics.
"The helicopter crash blame game has started but I think is being informed by the 2022 politics in Nakuru," Joe Ngugi, an ally of Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, said. Efforts to reach the governor were futile as calls to his aide went unanswered.