ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga is safe after a helicopter he had travelled in crashed while taking off from Kudho Primary School in Siaya County on Sunday evening.

The chopper seemed to struggle while attempting to take off before it came tumbling down just minutes after it had dropped Raila off in Gem after picking him up in Kisumu City.

A statement by his Spokesperson Dennis Onyango indicated the copter had dropped him off with his team of four people before the incident that saw residents scamper for safety.

“The helicopter, Bell 407, Registration 5Y-PSM had dropped Mr Odinga at Kudho Primary School in Gem when it attempted to lift off to create space for other planes. Unfortunately, it crashed,” the statement by Onyango reads.

The crashed chopper. PHOTO/COURTESY

However, no fatalities were reported in the incident even as the chopper pilot and four others who were on board escaped with minor wounds.

After being dropped off, Raila is reported to have proceeded and joined President Uhuru Kenyatta as he launched national government projects that had been initiated in the region.


Raila joined Uhuru as he started his three-day tour of the region that will climax in Tuesday’s commemoration of Madaraka Day at the newly built Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium.


After landing in Kisumu on Sunday, the Head of State officially commissioned the Kodiaga-Wagai-Onyinyore/Akala and the Nyangweso-Muhanda Roads in Siaya County totaling 38km.