'I learnt of my husband’s death on social media': Pilot George Were’s widow recounts

The widow of helicopter pilot George Were, who died in the crash that also claimed the life of Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno and four others, has emotionally recounted the moment she first learnt of her husband’s death through social media.

Speaking during Were’s burial ceremony in Nyakach on Saturday, the grieving widow – Emily Were - said she was holding her phone when she began seeing posts about the crash, before realizing that her husband was among the victims.

“I learnt of my husband’s death on social media. I had the phone in my hand and then I started seeing the news. When I realized it was him, my first instinct was to call my children because the way social media is, they were going to see it within the next ten minutes or so,” she said.

Family members, friends, colleagues in the aviation industry and leaders gathered for the funeral to pay their final respects to the pilot, who was remembered as a dedicated professional, loving husband and devoted father.

In a heartfelt tribute, Were’s widow also reflected on their life together, sharing a lighthearted memory about their shared love for rhumba music.

“George loved rhumba, and that brought a bit of problems between us until 2006 when we were both carjacked coming from a rhumba joint,” she said.

“After that, we agreed on how we were going to handle this rhumba. When we went out, we made sure the children knew where we were. If he went alone, he would call and tell me he was with his friends…and that worked well.”

She also expressed gratitude to government officials and friends who supported the family following the tragedy.

“I want to thank the President and the Deputy President from the bottom of my heart,” she said.

“You know there’s war in the Middle East and getting air tickets is not easy, but through our family friend (Interior Principal Secretary) Raymond Omollo, my children were able to come back within two days. I’m very grateful because even as they continue mourning, they will have some closure.”

She further thanked Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

“When George’s body came from Eldoret, it was to be put in a metal box. But CS Murkomen said, ‘No, Captain cannot be put in a metal box, you have to give him a coffin,’ and he supported us. Thank you so much, CS, wherever you are,” she said.

Were perished in the crash that also killed MP Ng’eno and four other people after the helicopter they were travelling in crashed and burst into flames on the edge of Chepkieb Forest in Mosop, Nandi County, on February 28, 2026.

The chopper went down at about 4.45pm, moments after attempting to take off from a makeshift landing site near the forest, following what witnesses described as poor visibility caused by ongoing rains in the area.

Ng’eno was laidto rest at his Mogondo home in Emurua Dikirr on March 6, 2026.