Preparations are underway in Emurua Dikirr for the burial of the late MP Johana Ngeno, who will be laid to rest at his family home on Friday, March 6. The funeral arrangements were finalised after extensive discussions between the family, local leaders, and a parliamentary committee to ensure the six victims of last week’s helicopter crash are honoured respectfully.
Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu said leaders from the region have met several times to coordinate the burial schedule.
“We have held meetings and discussed the burial programme. We met yesterday and this morning with members of the parliament committee to oversee and plan the burial of our MP. We all agreed that the burial date would not be mentioned until all the family members agreed. The family has settled on Friday to bury MP Ngeno,” he confirmed.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday at the Baptist Church to commemorate all six victims. On Thursday, Ngeno’s and Rono’s bodies will be taken to their homes for night vigils, following family customs, as both men were married with children.
The remaining three victims, young men, are expected to arrive on Friday ahead of the burial.
The six will be jointly honoured at Emurua Dikirr Primary School before being taken to their individual homes for burial. Governor Ntutu invited Kenyans across the country to join the community in expressing their condolences.
“We call on Kenyans from across the country to come and condole with us on Friday. We assure you the people of Emurua Dikirr are peaceful and welcoming,” he said.
He also appealed for a proper investigation into the crash and discouraged any political exploitation of the tragedy.
“I ask our leaders not to politicise the death of those who have left us. We have seen some leaders coming out to say what had happened, yet the families of those fallen are still mourning the loss of their sons,” he added.
President William Ruto visited Ngeno’s Karen residence on Monday, joined by other leaders, and signed the condolence book to console the family.
Born in 1972, Ngeno was serving his third term in Parliament after first being elected in 2013. He chaired the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning, and Public Works, was a member of the Liaison Committee, and served on the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee during the 12th Parliament.
