Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata is facing a storm of controversy after an NTV exposé linked him to a brazen scheme involving forged death certificates and fraudulent claims in the aftermath of the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 tragedy.
The investigative report alleges that Kang’ata, a former Senate Majority Whip, facilitated the presentation of fake documents to access millions of dollars meant for grieving families. Shockingly, those listed as next of kin in the paperwork were not related to any victims — they were allegedly staffers from Kang’ata’s Senate office.
But in a swift and defiant response, Kang’ata has rubbished the claims, calling them “misleading” and rooted in a matter that was “duly closed” years ago.
“All real victims whom we represented in the United States got paid, and NONE has complained,” Kang’ata stated.
“NONE OF THE EIGHT MENTIONED WERE COMPENSATED.”
He emphasized that his involvement in the Senate’s debate over the crash never resulted in personal or professional gain, and reiterated that all rightful Kenyan victims received their compensation.
“This is a 2019 issue that was duly closed, and all compensation relating to my clients was paid,” he asserted.
Doubling down on his legal credentials, the governor added,
“I’ll continue using my legal skills to fight for Kenyans successfully, including in the US and wherever else.”
The 2019 crash, which killed 157 people — including 32 Kenyans — exposed global failures in aviation oversight and triggered widespread lawsuits and reforms. Now, the integrity of that justice process appears to be under renewed scrutiny.
As civil society groups demand investigations and the public reels from the emotional betrayal, Kang’ata’s political future may hinge on whether this “closed” chapter is truly behind him — or about to be reopened in court.
This is a developing story.
