Seven killed in helicopter crash in central Kenya

On August 19, 2026, a helicopter carrying tourists crashed near Mount Ololokwe in the Samburu County of central Kenya. The incident occurred at approximately 9:13 a.m. All seven individuals on board, including the pilot and six tourists, perished in the accident. Local authorities, including the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Red Cross, were dispatched to the site to conduct rescue and recovery operations.

Among the victims were Michele Sensi-Contugi, the head of Ecuador's strategic intelligence agency (CIES), and his wife, Stephanie. The United States Department of State confirmed that five American citizens were also among those who died. While the aircraft was reportedly headed toward the Loisaba conservancy or the Ewaso Nyiro River area, the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation by local law enforcement. There are no known survivors, and the site has been secured for further forensic analysis.