A helicopter crash in Samburu County has claimed the lives of seven people, including Ecuador's intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan, with five Americans also confirmed among those killed.
The accident happened on Wednesday at around 09:13 local time (06:13 GMT), according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), which said the aircraft was taking passengers on a scenic flight in the Samburu area.
Sensi-Contugi and Hollihan were among the seven people who died after the helicopter went down while travelling from a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba towards Ewaso Nyiro.
Ewaso Nyiro is a river that runs along several national reserves, making the area a popular destination for tourists visiting Kenya's wildlife and scenic landscapes.
A US State Department spokesperson confirmed that five Americans were killed in the crash.
The deaths of Sensi-Contugi and Hollihan have also drawn condolences from Ecuador's government, with the presidential office mourning the couple following the accident.
"The National Government expresses its most heartfelt condolences over the sensitive passing of Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan," Ecuador's presidential office said in a statement on X.
Former Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso also sent his condolences to the relatives, friends and colleagues of the two victims in a social media message.
"My solidarity and closeness to their family members, friends, and colleagues in these moments of profound grief.
"May God grant them consolation and strength, and may the victims rest in peace."
Efforts to reach the crash site were still underway, with the Kenya Red Cross telling the BBC that the area was not yet accessible.
Drones were being used to survey the location and help assess the situation as authorities worked to establish what had happened.
The KCAA identified the aircraft as a Eurocopter EC130 B4 and said it was co-ordinating the response to the accident.
It further said the Transport Ministry and Air Accident Investigations Department would take charge of the inquiry.
The two agencies will lead "investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident", according to the KCAA.
Samburu County is a well-known tourist area with several private wildlife conservancies and is also known for its scenic views.
The latest crash comes after other deadly helicopter accidents in Kenya in recent years.
In February, six people died when a helicopter crashed in Nandi County in the Rift Valley. Among those who lost their lives was a member of parliament.
A year earlier, in 2024, military chief Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla died after an arm helicopter carrying 11 people crashed in western Kenya. Only two people survived that accident.
In June 2021, at least 10 soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed while landing near Nairobi.
Authorities are now expected to establish the circumstances that led to the latest accident as investigations into the Samburu crash get underway.