Irungu Kang’ata once stood as a symbol of hope for grieving families affected by the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 tragedy. The March 2019 crash killed all 157 people on board, including 32 Kenyans, and left many homes in deep sorrow.
Families demanded justice, and some, with the help of lawyers from around the world, sought compensation from Boeing. Kang’ata, then a senator and a lawyer, joined this legal battle and was seen as a hero. But now, a fresh report by NTV aired on May 7, 2025, paints a completely different picture of the man.
Daily Nation morning report about Irungu Kang’ata regarding alleged fraud.
The NTV investigation alleges that Kang’ata, instead of helping the victims’ families, may have actually stolen from them. According to the report, Kang’ata’s law firm allegedly forged documents and listed fake relatives of the crash victims to claim money from Boeing’s compensation fund.
NTV’s findings are supported by whistleblowers, including former staff who worked in Kang’ata’s Senate office. One claimed their name and signature were used without permission to support a fake claim. Another person said they discovered they had been listed as a “relative” of a victim they had never even heard of.
Hidden camera footage reportedly showed Kang’ata responding to these claims, yet he has not come out to deny the allegations publicly. The silence is deafening.
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata at a past event. Photo | The Standard.
The report further claims that fake death certificates were submitted and that members of Kang’ata’s own staff were used as stand-ins for grieving relatives. Boeing had set aside $500 million to compensate families, and it appears part of that money may have ended up in the wrong hands.
These are not just careless errors or paperwork mix-ups points to a cold and calculated plan to take advantage of a grieving process for financial gain.
This scandal, exposes not just one man’s alleged greed but also the deeper sickness of corruption in Kenya. Over the years, Kenyans have become used to hearing of leaders involved in shady deals and theft.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata. PHOTO/Courtesy
But faking victims of a plane crash to steal money meant for real families is a new and disgusting low. It shows how far some individuals are willing to go to profit off the pain of others.
Even though the evidence shared by NTV is troubling, it’s also true that some parts of the story are still developing. No forged documents or bank transfers have been made public yet. Supporters of Kang’ata are already calling this a political witch-hunt. That may be possible, but the weight of the allegations cannot be ignored.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) must act fast, verify the claims, and present the truth.
