Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has denied allegations of fraudulent involvement in the compensation process for victims of the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash, in which 157 people lost their lives, including many Kenyans. The Governor, who previously served as Murang’a Senator, acted as a lawyer for some of the victims’ families.
Speaking in response to a televised exposé aired on Wednesday, Kang’ata maintained that all the individuals he legally represented in the United States received their rightful compensation and that none had raised any complaints. “All real victims whom we represented in the United States got paid, and none has complained,” he stated.
The exposé alleged that certain individuals listed as next of kin to crash victims were in fact connected to Kang’ata either as former or current staff. However, the Governor firmly denied these claims, saying that none of the eight individuals mentioned received any compensation and that he personally did not benefit from the process.
“This is a 2019 issue that was duly closed, and all compensation relating to my clients Kenyan accident victims was duly paid,” Kang’ata said. He emphasized that his involvement in a related Senate debate did not result in personal or financial gain for him or anyone associated with him.
The fatal crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, bound for Nairobi, killed all on board. The tragedy led to global scrutiny of Boeing and eventually large-scale compensation for victims’ families.
Kang’ata reaffirmed his commitment to using his legal expertise for the benefit of Kenyans both locally and internationally. “I’ll continue using my legal skills to fight for Kenyans successfully, including in the U.S. and wherever else,” he concluded.
The exposé acknowledged that it had no concrete evidence linking Kang’ata or the individuals mentioned to any direct financial benefit from Boeing, the manufacturer of the ill-fated aircraft. The Governor’s firm rebuttal seeks to quell any public concerns about the integrity of the compensation process.
