Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has responded to a report claiming fraudulent dealings in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash compensation case.
According to the Governor, who acted as a lawyer for some of the relatives of the victims, he did not benefit from the compensation, as well as the persons alleged to be his staff in the report aired on TV on Wednesday.
Kang’ata said that all victims were compensated, including those he personally represents,d and no one has complained.
He reiterated that the case was also duly closed and that he will continue to use his legal skills to fight for Kenyans.
“All real victims whom we represented in the United States got paid, and none has complained. None of the eight mentioned were compensated. This is a 2019 issue that was duly closed, and all compensation relating to my clients (Kenya accident victims duly) paid.
“My senate debate on the issue did not confer any gain either to myself or purported staff. I'll continue using my legal skills to fight for Kenyans successfully, including in the US and wherever else,” the Governor said.
At the time of the case, he served as Senator of Murang’a County.
The exposé alleged that some of his staff at the time were listed as part of the next of kin to persons who were involved in the crash.
It said some are currently staff of the Governor.
All the 157 persons on board the plane died. The accident occurred shortly after takeoff from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Majority of the passengers were Kenyans.
The report, however, noted that it has no proof that Kang’ata or any of the persons in question received any form of compensation from Boeing, the company that made the aircraft.
