Africa Watch: Helicopter crashes off Kenya, one woman dead

"Part of the reason why poverty still persists in our continent is governments inability to work in a bi-partisan manner with the opposition to confront the many problems facing us as a continent. In almost all the advanced democracies a government in power works or listens to the opposition in matters of national importance such as education, defence, energy and the economy. However in Africa such matters are always hijacked by the ruling government to the detriment of the nation and its people". Lord Aikins Adusei

Friday, June 26, 2009

Helicopter crashes off Kenya, one woman dead

NAIROBI (Reuters) - A small private helicopter crashed on Thursday in the Lamu archipelago off Kenya's Indian Ocean coast, killing one woman on board, police saidLamu police chief John Kamau said the chopper went down on Kiwayu island, killing the woman and seriously injuring her husband. They were both Kenyans of British origin.

Kamau had earlier said they were in a light plane, and were believed to be British.

Tail-winds destabilised the chopper as it was trying to land, causing it to hit a tree and burst into fire, he said.

"One of the occupants is confirmed dead," he told Reuters.

The Lamu archipelago is a favourite haunt for rich Kenyans and foreign tourists. Plenty of Westerners keep property there.