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Chopper carrying Government Spokesperson, Red Cross boss forced into emergency landing in Kikuyu

The plane carrying Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura and Red Cross Kenya Secretary-General Idris Ahmed was forced to make an emergency landing in the Gichungo area, Kikuyu Constituency due to poor weather conditions. (Screengrab)

By Mary Wambui | 08 May 2024

The incident happened after the two toured Kisumu, one of the worst affected counties alongside Nairobi, Tana River and Garissa to assess the flood situation and give relief to victims.

A helicopter carrying Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura and Red Cross Kenya Secretary-General Idris Ahmed was on Tuesday forced to make an emergency landing in the Gichungo area, Kikuyu Constituency due to poor weather conditions.

Mwaura later on Wednesday confirmed the incident in a post on X.

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"I am safe fellow Kenyans. Our plane had to make an emergency landing in the Gichungo area, Kikuyu Constituency due to poor weather conditions. Ahmed Idris the Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross and I had gone to Nyando in Kisumu to deliver relief on Non-Food Items (NFIs) to the Floods Affected Persons (FAPs). We arrived home safely and we thank God for this. Happy World Red Cross Day," he said.

The incident happened after the two toured Kisumu, one of the worst affected counties alongside Nairobi, Tana River and Garissa to assess the flood situation and give relief to victims.

"This is Kisumu, Kenya, Today, Kenya is bearing the brunt of the Climate Crisis. Hundreds were killed, thousands displaced by the floods. The humanitarian situation is dire. Urgent need to scale up assistance to the affected population," Idris posted after the tour.

No one was injured in the incident. Mwaura was seen engaging the locals including children who had gathered at the scene as they took pictures next to the helicopter before the officials returned to Nairobi.

The Spokesman Hon Dr. Isaac Mwaura is safe. The helicopter plane that him & Idriss Ahmed the Kenya Redcross SG were using from Nyando had to make an emergency landing in Gishungo, Kikuyu Constituency due to poor weather conditions. They had gone to give relief to affected people pic.twitter.com/UEL1fKRMJZ
— Spokesperson GoK (@SpokespersonGoK) May 8, 2024

The world marks Red Cross and Red Crescent Day on Wednesday, May 8 to celebrate the uniqueness and unity of the global movement.

The day falls on the birthday of the movement's founder Henry Dunant's birthday on May 9, 1948.

It was initially known as the International Red Cross Day before its official title was changed to "World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day in 1984."

"Today, the day is an opportunity every year to celebrate our network of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers, reaffirm our unwavering commitment to a common humanity, and reflect on our Fundamental Principles," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) states on its website.

The principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality have guided the movement's actions over the last half a century making it one of the most trusted and relied upon organisations by citizens globally.

In Kenya, the Red Cross has been at the forefront of coordinating response and rescue efforts for victims of flooding and other disasters caused by heavy rains across the country.

On Monday, Idris updated the National Disaster Response Steering Committee led by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on the humanitarian situation in the country during which calls for financial support were made.

"We reiterated the need to provide for the current needs of affected communities, but also plan support for recovery interventions," Idris said after the meeting.