Azimio MP David Pkosing's Chopper Grounded

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) on Friday, February 17 grounded a helicopter belonging to Pokot South Member of Parliament David Pkosing.

The green and white helicopter, registered as 5Y-DPL, belonging to the embattled legislator, which was used to transport seven men who had been arrested and released by the Kitale Law Courts over suspected involvement in banditry at Kainuk, is now a subject of forensic investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Forensic experts from the DCI are expected at Wilson Airport on Saturday, February 18 alongside Pkosing's lawyers to conduct a forensic analysis of the aircraft.

A white and green chopper belonging to MP David Pkosing. /FACEBOOK

The detectives further informed the third-term MP that they will contact him on Monday, February 20 if need be for further clarification, even as a joint police-Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) operation on the regions classified as disturbed and dangerous was launched to weed out the bandits.

Pkosing after he was interrogated by the DCI, stated that he owns a chopper but clarified that the white chopper linked to banditry activities does not belong to him.

“The green and white chopper is mine, the white chopper that is doing rounds on social media is not mine. Is it wrong for a Pokot to own a chopper?” he posed.

The lawmaker was backed by his lawyer, Dunstan Omari, who further stated that the aircraft has clearance from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and is used by all sorts of politicians.

“They are now saying that it ferries firearms from Wilson to West Pokot. Yet this aircraft is used by leaders across all divides and cleared by KAA,” said Omari.

The lawyer further added that his client has never been involved in the business of buying and selling cattle even as he termed the accusations a witch hunt.

“We were told to come back and answer to issues of the commercialization of bandits, that the cows are being stolen are normally handed over to Mheshimiwa so he should respond to money laundering,” added Omari.

“We have come and the same questions have been put to Mheshimiwa, he has responded that all his life, he has never been in the business of selling or buying cattle.”

Pkosing further read a foul play in the manner the banditry menace in the North Rift is being handled by the State, wondering why other leaders from neighbouring communities who incited their constituents had not been questioned.

The MP on Friday left the DCI headquarters at around 6:15 pm after being interrogated over suspected involvement in banditry in West Pokot and neighbouring counties.

The arrest came before the official commencement of the joint operation between the KDF officers and Kenya Police Service officers as ordered by President William Ruto on Monday, February 13.

In addition, he also announced a three-day voluntary disarmament exercise starting February 14 which will allow for the surrender of guns with no repercussions.