`SAITOTI` CHOPPER CRASH PROBE;VICTIMS FAMILIES WANT IN...ALSO SEE FRESH IMAGES FROM CRASH SCENE

French experts from Eurocoptar company (the manufacturers of the aircraft) examine parts of the remains of the helicopter on Wednesday

The families of victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash in Kenya have said they want to be represented in the team formed to investigate the cause of the accident in Ngong Forest.

The relatives of Internal Security minister George Saitoti, his assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh and his bodyguard Joshua Tonkei have made the request to have representatives at the inquiry.

Three other police officers — Pilots Nancy Gituanja and Luke Oyugi, and bodyguard Thomas Murimi, died in the crash.

 Also seeking to join the investigations team is the Kenya Airline Pilots Association, which termed their omission in the Commission of Inquiry an oversight on the part of country`s Transport Minister Amos Kimunya

Kenya Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who chairs the funeral committee, had said the families of the six victims who wished to have legal representation at the public inquiry would be allowed to do so.

 Speaking when he visited the homes of the late Inspector Tonkei and late Sergeant Murimi in Highridge estate Parklands on Tuesday, Mr Musyoka said: “You should feel free to be represented at the inquiry, nothing will be hidden from the public.”

French expert takes a picture of helicopter remains on Wednesday

Belongings to crash victims that scattered around crash scene

That area was exactly the center of crash impact

In orange jacket is Kenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga  looking up  the tree hit by the chopper on its way down

GSU officers were intact securing the crash scene

Victim`s body being removed from the crash scene to the Lee Funeral Home

Another body of unrecognized victim is carried away from crash scene

Some of  remaining parts of  the ill-fated chopper

A body bag containing remain of unidentified crash victim at the crash scene

Meanwhile, the five-member team investigating the cause of the helicopter crash will have powers to summon witnesses and receive evidence from the public.

The inquiry, chaired by Appeal Court Judge Kalpana Rawal has powers to summon the manufacturers of the helicopter and as senior officers at the police air wing to help unravel the mystery behind the crash.

The families spoke as it was revealed that the helicopter was not insured. Insurance cover for the fleet and crew of the Kenya Police Air Wing was discontinued in 2004 and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority granted the Air Wing authority to operate without insurance cover.

Kenya Police Air Wing commandant Rodgers Mbithi said the insurance plan was under way, adding that the crew were covered under the civil servants scheme.

A taskforce had proposed that Sh15 million, out of Sh16 billion they recommended to be set aside for the improvement of the police air wing in the next four years, be used to insure all its pilots and engineers but the funds were never released.