President William Ruto joined mourners in Emurua Dikirr, Narok County, on Friday afternoon to bid a final farewell to Member of Parliament Johana Ng’eno. The MP was among six people who died in a tragic helicopter crash last Saturday.
Speaking with a heavy heart, the President offered a series of specific promises to support the grieving families and to cement the legacy of the fallen lawmaker.
Direct Support for the Families
The President announced immediate financial and professional aid for the families of the four men who died alongside the MP: Carlos, Wycliff Rono, Amos Kipngetich, and Nicholas Kosgei.
He directed that KSh 8 million be distributed among these four families, with each receiving KSh 2 million to assist with immediate costs.
Beyond financial aid, the President promised long-term security through employment and education.
He directed the Ministry of Agriculture to employ Wycliff Rono’s widow. In a touching gesture, he also ordered that a teaching post intended for Carlos Keter—who had not yet drawn a salary—be transferred to his sister, who is a trained teacher.
“I will personally take this young man and sponsor him through university until he finishes,” Ruto said, referring to the son of Amos Kipngetich.
Honoring a “Champion of Development”
President Ruto described Ng’eno as a unique leader whose “signature” was on every major project in the constituency, from schools to hospitals.
To honour his work as the Chairperson of the Housing Committee, the President directed the Ministry of Housing to rename the Shauri Moyo housing estate in Nairobi—a project featuring 4,500 units—to the Johana Ng’eno Housing Estate.
The President also committed KSh 20 million annually for the next five years to support Kenyan artists. This was a project Ng’eno had been passionately lobbying for just weeks before his death.
Infrastructure and Land Reforms
The burial also served as a platform for the President to address long-standing regional issues that the late MP had championed.
The Mau Forest Issue: Ruto promised that 12,200 people previously evicted from the Mau Forest would be catered for in the upcoming July/August budget to help them find permanent homes.
Land Ownership: The government will pay for 5,000 acres of land at Chelugate and 1,500 acres at Ang’ata Barrikoi to settle residents and end local land disputes.
A New University for Emurua Dikirr
In perhaps the most significant announcement for the local youth, the President confirmed the establishment of a Masai Mara University campus in the area. He pledged KSh 20 million for the initial land purchase and KSh 750 million for the construction of the campus and student hostels.
“I want to come back here before July to do the ground-breaking for this university,” the President told the crowd.
As the ceremony concluded, the President assured Ng’eno’s widow and young children that the government would stand by them.
“You have a young family, but we will work with you to ensure Johana Ng’eno’s children move forward,” he said.
