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Kenyan minister dies in helicopter crash

June 10, 2012 · 3016411 Comments2012-06-10+14%3A04%3A24goth+Mohamed

One of Kenya’s longest-serving ministers and its former vice-president died in a helicopter crash outside Nairobi on Sunday.

George Saitoti, the internal security minister, was travelling to a church service south of the capital with his deputy, Joshua Ojode, when their police helicopter came down in forested hills near the town of Ngong.

There were no immediate reports of foul play in the crash, which also killed two bodyguards and two pilots.

However, Mr Saitoti, who planned to stand as a presidential candidate in Kenya’s 2013 elections, spearheaded the country’s fight against Somali jihadists’ promises to explode bombs in Nairobi.

This raised questions as to whether the crash was caused by a terrorist attack.

Mr Saitoti, 66, was born to a poor family in Masailand south of Nairobi, but went on to education in Britain and the US and rose to become one of his generation’s most respected academic mathematicians.

He was finance minister under the former president, Danial arap Moi, and served as vice-president on several occasions between 1988 and 2002.

Mwai Kibaki, Kenya’s president, said the deaths were “a devastating loss to our country”.

“Minister Saitoti will forever be remembered as a hardworking and determined public servant who dedicated his time to the service of the Kenyan people,” he said on Sunday.

“There is nothing to suggest that this is anything other than a very tragic accident,” a Kenyan police spokesman said.

By Mike Pflanz, Nairobi

2:07PM BST 10 Jun 2012

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By goth Mohamed

Jabuutawi says:

Saitoti—Saitata—Saitutu. Funny names san weyn have.

11:51 am on June 10, 2012

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hodan says:

Jabuutawi????

is that all you can say, shame on you!!!! Life's have been lost……..

12:44 pm on June 10, 2012

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- Jabuutawi says:
  
  Huuno Hodan,
  
  Maxa dhacay? As part of Kenya's security apparatus, I wonder how many innocent lives this Masai guy took. Ever thought about that?
  
  Huuno/Walashay/Abaayo I am 100% Jabuutawi. Ku so dhawow dhulka. It all belongs to Somali people. BTW. we welcome all Somali girls with open arms- no visa required.
  
  1:16 pm on June 10, 2012
  
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  - khaatumo citizen says:
    
    looool if i were a reporter i could never pronounce his name.. anyhow R.I.P..
    
    Jabuutawi adiga yaa kubaray afsomaliga, i thought u guys have another language.
    
    2:44 pm on June 10, 2012
    
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Jabuutawi says:

Good grief Administrator,

Am I using the wrong words to delete my work. Sister K. Citizen thinks I dissed her and that could not be farther from the truth! Sister K. Citizen so you know, I did not say anything bad in trying to respond to your funny comment, OK?

-Peace.

4:17 pm on June 10, 2012

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- khaatumo citizen says:
  
  Jabuutawi.. why do i feel like ur an outsider lool jokes
  
  erm no worries bro i know u didnt say anything bad :)
  
  6:28 pm on June 10, 2012
  
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Sarkastic says:

Since Turkeys lies to Somalis most of the horn will be in danger of chaos. Turkey forgets what they can do I can do????

6:53 pm on June 10, 2012

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Sarkastic says:

Don't get too comfortable because the fights just began?? South Somalis get strapped and bring along you're colonizers…loool cajiiib

6:55 pm on June 10, 2012

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- mohamed cheers says:
  
  @Sarkastic
  
  Don't you think that Turkey is helping Somalia and engaged in doing pretty well more than
  anybody else. Please stop being jealous. Just limit youself to speaking for your Somaliland
  without polarizing Somalia's affairs. I think that we should be positive to help Somalia to
  recover from the bad crisis which's good for Somaliland and all Somalis in the Horn of Africa.
  Cheers.
  
  7:28 am on June 11, 2012
  
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HUSSEIN ALI says:

SHUT UP EVRYONE!!!! MAY SAITOTI R.I.P

2:36 pm on June 12, 2012

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MUSILA says:

I will even remember him with his hard work as a public servant.May Almighty GOD rest his soul in eternal peace.AMEN

3:07 am on June 13, 2012

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