Lake Nakuru helicopter crash scene. [Photo: Citizen tv]
Search for three missing victims of a helicopter that crashed into Lake Nakuru close to a month ago has been hampered by lack of specialized equipment.
As the search entered its 27th day, Nakuru County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha and Governor Lee Kinyanjui said the Ministry of Interior was in the process of procuring superior marine search equipment to help in the exercise.
The joint statement was also signed by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Assistant Director Aggrey Maumo, KWS Senior Warden Paul Kipkoech, Deputy OCPD Daniel Kitavi and Kenya Navy officer in charge of divers Major Keter Kipkorir and Kenya Navy Fleet Commander Lt. Col. Ma Mohammed.
In a briefing on the status report regarding the search efforts held at the governor’s office on Wdnesday, the team said the search efforts had been slowed down by poor visibility in the lake, dangerous marine animals particularly hippos, and unfavourable weather conditions within the park.
So far bodies of Captain Apollo Malowa who was piloting the ill-fated aircraft and Anthony Kipyegon, a driver attached to Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika have since been recovered and buried.
The search team has also managed to retrieve parts of the aircraft’s debris and personal effects of one of the missing victims John Ndirangu Mapozi.
Bodies of Samuel Gitau and Veronica Muthoni who were also aboard the aircraft are yet to be recovered.
He said though the exercise had strained both financial and material resources, the county government would consider preparing a supplementary budget to be forwarded for approval to the assembly for allocation of more funds towards the recovery efforts.
The team, the governor said, required Side scan sonar, Multibeam echo-sound, and Marine magnetometer that will help in locating the exact spot where the wreckage is submerged.
The divers further noted that their efforts had been slowed down by instability of the Lake Nakuru waters due to erratic change of waves and submerged logs.
The chopper was destined for a campaign rally in Narok County that was to be graced by among others President Kenyatta.