January 25, 2003	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 21, 1423

NAIROBI, Jan 24: Kenyan Labour Minister Ahmad Mohamed Khalif and two pilots were killed in a plane crash while several government and ruling party officials were injured Friday, the national security minister said.

“A chartered plane with 10 passengers and two pilots crashed at the Busia airstrip late this evening, killing the Labour and Manpower (Development) Minister Honourable Ahmad Khalif and both pilots,” Minister of State for National Security Christopher Murungaru said.

The crash took place as a small aircraft was taking off from the western town of Busia, he said.

“The plane hit a pothole just before takeoff, lost control, hit an electric pole and crashed into a house,” Murungaru said on television.

The injured included Water Resources Minister Martha Karua, Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President Linah Jebii Kilimo, Tourism and Information Minister Raphael Tuju and member of parliament George Khaniri, Western Provincial police officer Peter Kimanthi told AFP by telephone.

Also injured in the crash was Robinson Njeru Githae, an assistant minister in the ministry of justice and constitutional affairs, and Wanjiru Kihoro, the head of a non-governmental organisation that promotes rural development, Murungaru said.

Murungaru said those injured were later Friday to be airlifted to Nairobi Hospital, where President Mwai Kibaki is recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash before he was elected president.—AFP