A sombre cloud hung over the Africa Gospel Church (AGC) in Karen, Nairobi, as families and mourners gathered for a joint requiem service for the victims of the Nandi helicopter crash.
At the heart of the service was a moving tribute from Naiyanoi Ntutu Ng’eno to her late husband, MP Johana Ng’eno.
"To my beloved Joha, the husband of my youth, you are the love of my early days when everything was still soft and full of possibility. We were young, learning life together. Your laugh made ordinary feel like a celebration; I can still hear it," she said.
"The way you loved the children, they adored you like you were their greatest accomplishment. Losing you feels like losing the music of my youth. You will always be my Joha. Rest gently," she added, her words resonating deeply with those gathered.
Nayianoi Ntutu, the wife of the late Johanna Ng'eno: Losing you feels like losing the music of my youth—the laughter, the dreams, and the simplicity of believing we have endless times, but even death cannot take what we built.#Yanayojiri pic.twitter.com/ovWGnvUwwt
— KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) March 4, 2026
Ng’eno, an outspoken MP, died alongside five others in a helicopter crash in Mosop, Nandi County, last Saturday at 4:45 pm.
The others were pilot George Were from Nyakach, Kisumu; forester Amos Kipngetich Rotich; the MP’s bodyguard Nick Koskei; the MP’s photographer Carlos Keter, a high school teacher from Emurua Dikirr; and Wycliffe Rono, an employee of the Narok County government.
Earlier on Wednesday, the families of the late Ng’eno, Rtd. Lt. Col. Were, Robert Keter, Amos Rotich, Wycliffe Rono, and Nicholas Koskei gathered at Lee Funeral Home for a prayer service before proceeding to AGC.
Among those in attendance during today's service were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, and Mama Ngong Ng’eno Ole Kisiara, mother of the late MP.
The burial of Johana Ng’eno is set for Friday, following a joint final ceremony at Emurua Dikirr Primary School.