Forged death certificates, fake family members, and millions of shillings allegedly stolen, that’s what a new investigation by NTV has revealed, exposing shocking claims against Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata.
The report accuses him of taking advantage of one of the worst tragedies in recent history the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash to enrich himself at the expense of grieving families.
On March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crashed just minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa. All 157 people on board died, including 32 Kenyans. The world watched in shock, and families from 35 different countries were left mourning. In the aftermath, Boeing admitted fault and agreed to pay $2.5 billion in compensation, with $500 million set aside specifically for victims’ families.
At the time, Kang’ata, then a senator and lawyer, joined efforts to help these families seek justice. He worked with international lawyers to fight for better compensation and was seen by many as a hero. He even went to court to push the Kenyan government to speed up the release of death certificates so families could get their money.
To the public, he looked like someone who cared deeply for the victims. But now, things have taken a dark turn, NTV’s investigation, aired on May 7, 2025, claims that Kang’ata was not just helping families he was allegedly stealing from them.
The report says he submitted fake documents and even listed people who were not related to the victims as beneficiaries.
Some of those named were reportedly his own employees. Whistleblowers say their names were used without permission and one even claims their signature was forged on legal documents. Hidden camera footage shows Kang’ata reacting to questions about the scam, though he has yet to give a public statement denying the claims.
These were families in pain, hoping for some relief, only to have their trust broken. Taking money meant for widows, orphans, and grieving parents is beyond cruel. It turns a national tragedy into a personal gain scheme. And with Boeing’s process covering victims from many countries, verifying every claim was difficult creating the perfect loophole for fraud.
Despite the serious allegations, the public has not seen solid proof like forged certificates or suspicious bank records. Some people believe this could be a political setup.
Still, many Kenyans are furious and are demanding a clear and speedy investigation. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and EACC, must act fast and tell the truth.
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