Kenyan Politicians With Choppers, Uhuru, Ruto and Raila Top the List
Acquiring a helicopter is the in thing right now in the Kenyan political arena. Whether it’s personal, commercial, for the 2017 campaigns or for the speed, tactics have changed. Leave alone the flashy cars you have seen around once in a while. Political big wigs in town are more than ready for august with aircrafts. Actually, the campaigns have been elevated, they have gone a notch higher. Don’t get surprised when you see them flying the most powerful aircraft such as the Bell 407.
The Kenya Civil Aviation confirms that for the past two years, at least 59 helicopters have been acquired and licensed. Some of them registered in the name of companies.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto, Opposition leaders Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka have acquired choppers in readiness for the campaigns. Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Peter Kenneth too was not left out.
Other political leaders who top that list include KANU chief Gideon Moi, Former President Mwai Kibaki, Embu senator Lenny Kivuti, former ministers Simeon Nyachae and Nicholas Biwott, Joseph Chepkwony, Kipchumba Murkomen, William Kabogo and Ephraim Maina, former Mathira MP. It is also rumored that the former CID boss Ndegwa Muhoro is also planning to purchase one.
Besides campaigns these helicopters are commercially significant. On hire, around half the money goes back to the owner. Normally the hiring rates are at sh150, 000 -170,000 per hour on flight time. On purchase, small passenger helicopters costs range from 100 million to 200 million. The cost of import duties and assembly could double it to around 400 million.
Ephraim Maina
The former Mathira MP has three helicopters with one yet to be registered. He was also an aspirant for the Nyeri senatorial seat in 2013.
Uhuru Kenyatta
The Kenyatta family has two helicopters in the B3e and B3+ configuration. These probably go way back to his father Jomo Kenyatta.
Peter Kenneth
The Nairobi governor gubernatorial aspirant owns a helicopter and is soon acquiring a Cessna Grand Caravan which costs Sh175 million. That makes them two.
Musalia Mudavadi 2
ANC party leader has a Eurocopter B4 that costs Sh210 million. The euro copter can carry seven passengers for 610 kilometers. He is about to buy a second one. These two could help him navigate through the country during his campaigns countrywide.
Raila Odinga 1
The former PM owns the powerful Bell 407 that he acquired last year. It is a high performance helicopter that owns a spacious cabin. It can also detect terror attacks 12000 miles away before landing. It is rumored that he is about to acquire another one.
William Ruto
The deputy president has an Aerospatiale 350B3 Ecureuil eurocopter that he owns jointly with KASS CEO Joseph Chepkwony.
Kalonzo musyoka 1
Kalonzo’s euro copter was involved in a crash in Tanzania after it was hired for campaigns by Chama Cha Mapinduzi. The insurance company repaid him though. It isn’t yet confirmed if he will be acquiring another one.
Kipchumba murkomen 1
The senator is finalizing details to buy one.
John Munyes
The Turkana senator has a fixed wing Cessna plane that he uses between Nairobi and Turkana. – Source link-venasnews.co.ke
Kenyan Politicians With Choppers, Uhuru, Ruto and Raila Top the List
