The nation was last night stunned by the death in a plane crash of Roads Minister Kipkalya Kones and Lorna Laboso, an Assistant Minister in the Office of the Vice-President.

That the ministers died on the eve of five by-elections, two occasioned by the brutal killings of two MPs — Mugabe Were (ODM, Embakasi) and Kimutai Too (ODM, Ainamoi) — gave the tragedy an even more ominous twist. It would appear that the jinx that so much dogged the Kibaki administration in his first term as President had returned to wreak havoc on the Grand Coalition Government.

Kones, the Bomet MP, and Laboso, the Sotik MP, were both on assignment to oversee the by-election in Ainamoi today on behalf of their party, ODM.

The extent to which the fate of the two legislators appeared intertwined—in their last days—was also poignantly captured in the fact that their Sotik and Bomet constituencies are near each other.

Laboso’s demise is a case of a rising political star nipped so cruelly, so early in the bud, while Kones’ death brings the curtain down on the life of a man who had lately acquired the status of a regional political kingpin.Questions

There were more questions than answers over the safety of leaders and the often, but seemingly inevitable tendency to travel in groups in the same aircraft — a trend that for the third time on Tuesday plunged the nation into mourning.

Police said search teams pulled out the bodies from the crash scene, the remote hilly and forested Kojong’a in Nairegi-Enkare, Narok District.

The bodies lay overnight at the Narok District Hospital and would be flown to Nairobi’s Lee Funeral Home today.

Also killed in the crash was the pilot, who police identified as Mr Schner Christopher, and Kones’ bodyguard, Kenneth Kipruto Bett.

President Kibaki, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Prime Minister Raila Odinga last night led the nation in mourning. The President ordered that flags be flown half-mast.

"In the interim, our investigation shows that the plane came down in bad weather," Mr Peter Wakihia, the Director of Investigation at the Transport ministry, told The Standard on the telephone.

The aircraft, which crashed shortly before 3pm, was expected to land at an airstrip in Kericho.

Police Air-wing Commandant, Mr Gilbert Gitonga, said last night: "We got the reports of the incident a few minutes after 3pm."

He described the crash site as a forest and infested area with escarpments rising as high as 10, 000 feet above sea level.No lessons learnt

The crash brought memories of the Busia and Marsabit air crashes flooding back with a chilling warning that few lessons had been learnt.

On January 24, 2003 Narc had just won elections and ministers and MPs were in a party mood. They attended Funyula MP’s Mr Moody Awori’s homecoming in a chartered flight, but as fate would have it, the plane crashed after taking off from Busia Airstrip, killing Labour minister, Ahmed Khalif.

Then the ghosts came back on April 10, 2006, when another plane crash in Marsabit killed six MPs and 14 other passengers. This was one of the biggest air disasters to befall the country.

However, more than five years after the Busia plane crash, the Government is yet to issue instructions regulating group travel for senior officials.

The recommendation was one of those made by Dr Lee Muthoga’s team that was mandated to investigate the crash in Khalif perished in 2003. The report suggested that senior Government officials refrain from traveling in groups, an idea that leaders have not heeded.

The April 30, 2003 report had 16 recommendations, but they have not been made public to date.

Leading the nation in mourning yesterday, President Kibaki said: "It is with deep sorrow and grief that I send my condolences to the families of Hon Kones, Hon Laboso, Police Officer Kenneth Bett and the Pilot Schner-Christopher. I wish them God’s grace during this trying moment."

Stunned by the tragedy, Raila said: "ODM has lost two more MPs, a bright star in the name of Lorna Laboso and a wise and seasoned politician in Kipkalya Kones."

Speaking in the presence of 34 ODM MPs, Raila added: "The two were leading lights in the Kipsigis community and they were the most eloquent champions."

On his part, Vice-President Mr Kalonzo Musyoka termed the deaths shocking and a setback to the healing and reconciliation efforts following the post-election chaos.

"Our country is today engulfed by a dark cloud. We have lost two senior leaders who were in the forefront of building a new Kenya," the VP said.

The Cessna 210 Centurion, which killed the ministers, is a six-seater, high-performance, retractable-gear single-engine general aviation aircraft, which was first flown in January, 1957. However, production was stopped in 1985.

[http://eastandard.net/news/?id=1143988226&cid=4] 

Comments (16)

condolences
written by Sara, June 11, 2008

I am sending a message of condolence to the family, relatives and friends of Hon. Kipkalya Kones and Hon. Lorna Laboso may the Amighty God give you strength during this season as we are mourning our great heroes.
This is a big loss to the Kipsigis and Kalenjin Community. May The Almighty God Give us Strength during this Sad moment.

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condolences
written by kbett, June 11, 2008

I take this opportunity to send my condolences to the family, friends, contituents, kipsigis and the entire kalenjin community for the loss of our hroes. May God be with us at this moments of sorrow.
I request for prayers for our community.

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condolences
written by patrice, June 11, 2008

i take this moment to extend my condolences to the family,the constituents,the kipsigis and the kalenjins in general for the sudden demise of our hero and heroine.lets solace in the knowledge that they touched and made real difference to many in the community and that their inspiration will guide many to greater heights.lorna and kipkalya,know that your smile is etched in our memories and that we will celebrate and thank god for giving us you.may your spirit be with us and inspire us.we will continue with the work you started....till victory is achieved.rest in peace.we love you.

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peete
written by paularaprono, June 12, 2008

Peete, you are an idiot.you need to have died in their place.How can you write such rubbish here

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coodolences
written by ANTIPAH KIPKOECH, June 12, 2008

we all know and aware that, it has been appointed once for one to die. tragedies befalls all of us at different times and God knows alone when one departs this life. i mourn with the families of the late, HON kipkalya kones HON.lorna laboso. both of the have done alot to their constituents and Kenya as a whole.
we all join their families and i urge them to look unto Jesus who is the giver of eternal life. read the book of job 14:1-6 and job 19:25-27.
i want to tell the person-peete, at this time when all kenyans are morning the Bible says,"do not rejoice, for you do not know about tomorrow; it might be you". let us not use this site for nonsense but for encouraging others at all times.
i want all kalenjins to live in peace and dont think bad about others, God is the only one who knows bether, therefore let us pray and live by God's grace.
the KONES and LABOSOS' families may God grace be sufficient for you and dont forget to pray always.
ane,
antipah kipkoech arap meli.

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Condolences
written by Olive Chepkorir Metet, June 12, 2008

Mutyo wee bamongo, mutyo wee chepiyo! It is so sad we have lost the pillars of our community. May God have mercy on us

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Mr.
written by Leshao, June 12, 2008

We mourn our leaders, our heros, our mentors. We will keep the spirit burning to see to the dreams they innitiated come true. The spirit of cohession MUST LIVE ON.
My heart goes out to you brothers and sisters whom have been robbed a father, a grad father and a friend. To you Laboso Jnr. May God see you throgh this trying time. To the Kones and Laboso families, may you be protected to see the uprising of new generation of Jnr Kones and Laboso to take the mantle of your people and lead them back to the promised land. Kajiado and Narok mourn with you. Remeber "Peete" is NOT WORTH YOUR TIME.

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DEDICATED TO THE VICTIMS OF TRIBAL VIOLENCE
written by kirkland, June 13, 2008

This should be a lesson to other war mongers, no ones life is much more important than other peoples life. Whatever you do to this world, you will pay here.period! You cannot just order the killings of human beings and have the better part of life.RIP Kones and all the victims who died as a result of you!!
Anyway, we mourn Lorna Laboso. We dont think there is any evils associated with her.

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ONE WARLORD ALREADY GONE
written by kirkland, June 13, 2008

PIP WAR MONGER!

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I am mourning for the land clashes victims too
written by peete, June 14, 2008

I don't know why you guys took my previous message out, it goes to show that this website is not tolerant of others opinions just like the people it represents. Kipkalyas Kones was known as an ethnic cleanser, I will not sugar coat it because he is dead. He forgot that he was not God, he was a man who was not invisible just like you and I and thats what his death reminds us. Your community can not go around killing people because they did not vote like them thats primitivism to the highest order. You started that stupidity and now you are tasting it in Kilgoris. Nobody bothered your people when Moi and your people were bringing the country down.

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peete
written by patrice, June 14, 2008

peete whoever you are,
you should know that you are waging a futile tirade.why dont you and your ilk take your gluttony elsewhere?be informed that we know that behind the facade of sorry we see in the streets and the media amongst you ....is evil .and know that good will thrive over evil.you should be sorry for yourselves..nowhere to run!

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peete
written by patrice, June 14, 2008

peete,
you should know that you are not welcome here!

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patrice
written by peete, June 15, 2008

I don't understand your message, limit direct translations please.

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Prayers To God Will Be Answered
written by K K Ngeno, June 15, 2008

The same afternoon we lost our Honourable Kipkalia Kones and Honourable Lorna Laboso,my wife was attending a pole visit to a family who had lost a loved one.In attendance were churchgoers.What united them that day was not their tribes or God but the grieve.The tribe of the grieving family,God Knows.In the pole mission were different tribes but one tribe was dorminant and very vocal.One mum said to my wife the arumbwa have been paid for killing our people and she wished it was the chief arumbwa Ruttoh!Little did she know that my wife is married to the arumbwa.It was sad for her but she consoled herself in The Living God.She said a prayer in her heart 'God forgive us'.
Did you get any message?This Nation shall never heal if that is what in the hearts of every tribe.Only Devine intervention is required.God touch and change our hearts.Church should preach non but Christ,who was always compassionate even to the enemies of the church.
Truth,Justice,and Reconciliation are just but powerful words which will never change us but enslave us.Why?If it is not done to my tribe it is not justice.We are become the worst tribalists even in church.In every home is born a Raila,a Kalonzo or a Ruttoh just like among the twelve disciples of Christ was Judas,Peter and Simon who represented all our shades of life.The application belong to individuals.
The devil has taken over the church and hence even the swearing of false governments by the bible.God forgive us.
For Peete and Kirkland,you have expressed your valued opinion.You are bitter and avengeful at heart.But God forgive you for you have not seen anything.May you live longer so that you can continue serving the devil whose days are numbered in Kenya.
For our departed Legislaters may God give you eternal peace.
Genuine Christian pray for this Nation for God's rules to prevail for the signs are very clear.You can not support a government enthroned on stolen votes and then lift the Holy Bible in your right hand and then proclaim God help me.
For their families lean on the Living God for He gives and takes.

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Tribute to Kipkalya
written by David Mutai, June 19, 2008

KIPKALYA KONES, THE LEGEND
Tribute by David Mutai (UK)






KIPKALYA KONES passed-on a brave and courageous man.

We mourn the loose of a great man
But also
Celebrate the wonderful privilege of sharing his gifted life.

Kipkalya was a mighty pillar and champion of his people
He was selfless, almost to a fault in his generosity
He gave without grumbling,
he gave from his heart
And
From their hearts, people loved him

His selflessness will live in our hearts and minds forever-

Kipkalya Kones has passed-on a LEGEND.

His praises will live among the Kipsigis people for generations to come.
His service to the Kenyan people as a whole will be UNFORGETTABLE.
His love for his family IRREPLACEBLE

He INSPIRED his people to greatness.
He was an astounding ORATOR whose skills were second to none.
With his speeches he won our HEARTS AND MINDS.
He pulled the crowds and inspired their lives
He spoke with new energy to our hearts and minds
To some of us, he drew us to tears...

I remember one old mama in a mass rally in Bomet saying:

“When Kipkalya speaks, I want to cry."
Yes,
such was the effect he had in all of us, and for that he will be greatly missed.

He gave us HOPE
INSPIRED our lives to greatness,
He saw the silver lining in every cloud, and made us all see the same

Who would forget his GENUINE SMILE?

He had a SMILE that was always deep from his heart.
His smile UPLIFTED OUR SPIRITS and made us approach daily life with
a positive energy.
He made everything worthwhile in countless ways

His name, Kipkalya, meant PEACE,
So may his soul rest in ETERNAL PEACE.

Kipkalya,
Memories of your life will live with us forever -

As an eagle sores in the sky from whence you fell,
so shall good memories of the lives you touched.

We mourn the lose of a TRUE LEADER, an IRREPLACEABLE man

But We also celebrate the life
of
A father
A family man
A gifted man,
A born leader,
Hard working and courageous man
A blessed man,
A happy man who made us all happy
A government minister
our beloved Mp
a true son of Kenya
a man of PEACE
a man called PEACE

You were a wonderful blessing to our lives.
We'll miss you Kipkalya
but
as you lived with a smile,
You will forever be remembered with a loving smile.
Rest In God’s Eternal Peace
With loving tears we celebrate your life and can’t believe you are gone

You are indeed irreplaceable.
and
Memories of your life will fondly be engraved in our memories for ever and ever

AMEN


Let us also remember all who perished in the plane crash. May their souls rest in eternal peace.

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I'm happy for Kalenjins.
written by Rono Arap Koech Moi, June 25, 2008

I'm happy Kalenjins are dying like flies. You started this mess, now, swim in it! I don't understand why you took down my other post. It was much nicer than this one. If you continue to discriminate, it will never take you far!

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