BLOOD MONEY SCANDAL: Governor Kang’ata Accused of Wire Fraud in Ethiopian Airlines Crash Compensation

Alleged Scheme Used Fake Victims to Divert Millions from Boeing Compensation Fund

In what could become one of Kenya’s most shocking corruption scandals, Murang’a Governor Dr. Irungu Kang’ata stands accused of orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme involving the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash that claimed 157 lives.

A Nation Media Group investigation has uncovered disturbing evidence suggesting the governor, while serving as Senator, may have used his own staff to pose as relatives of crash victims to potentially access millions in compensation funds.

The Tragic Crash

On March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737-8 aircraft, crashed near Bishoftu shortly after takeoff from Bole International Airport, killing all aboard.

Among the victims were 36 Kenyans—32 holding Kenyan passports and four with dual citizenship.

The disaster left families devastated and triggered massive litigation against Boeing.

How the Alleged Scheme Worked

At the center of the controversy is a petition submitted to the Senate in 2019, ostensibly by eight individuals claiming to have lost family members in the crash.

The petition’s opening line stated: “On March 10, 2019, we lost our family members in the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines crash.”

The petitioners claimed they hadn’t received “basic support for counselling” or been able to “retrieve our loved ones’ remains for burial.”

They also alleged difficulties obtaining death certificates.

In a stunning revelation, these eight petitioners were employees working under then-Senator Kang’ata.

Two of them—Davis Mburu Karanja and another who cannot be named due to a legal injunction—confirmed this in a November 2024 letter to the Senate Clerk, stating: “All the eight petitioners were employees of the former Senator for Murang’a County.”

The Senate Connection

When the petition was presented to the Senate, it was initially assigned to the National Security committee but was later transferred to the Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights committee—where Dr. Kang’ata was a member.

This unusual transfer raises questions about potential manipulation of the process.

During a Senate session on July 2, 2019, Dr. Kang’ata acknowledged his connection to the petitioners: “I am one of the lawyers who are handling that matter. Secondly, indeed, the petitioners behind this petition are personally known to me.”

He admitted advising them to submit the petition but claimed he “did not want to participate in person, because of potential conflict of interest issues.”

What he failed to disclose was that these petitioners were his employees.

The American Connection

What followed was equally troubling.

A delegation including Dr. Kang’ata and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei traveled to Seattle, USA, on taxpayers’ money, ostensibly to investigate issues raised in the petition.

When the committee finally presented its report—853 days after the petition was filed—it contained no recommendations whatsoever.

This prompted outrage from several senators.

Then Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula remarked: “It’s distressing to hear that they spent public resources to go to Seattle in the US and then bring no finding.”

Vihiga Senator George Khaniri questioned: “I want to know why the committee had to take a trip to Seattle to establish if death certificates were issued or not in Kenya.”

The False Claims

NTV’s investigations revealed disturbing inconsistencies in the petitioners’ claims.

When the reporters visited the homes of petitioners Eliud Maina Wanja and Noah Gachucha Gachanja in Murang’a County, neighbors and family members expressed shock at their names being connected to the crash.

At Mr. Maina’s home in Matharite village, an elderly woman named Jane Njeri reacted with surprise: “Kwa hii boma? Sijawahi sikia (In this home? I’ve never heard).”

The area assistant chief also denied any death having occurred from the Ethiopian accident.

Similarly, at Mr. Gachucha’s home in Karung’e village, his younger brother Stanley Kamau was visibly shocked, stating he had never heard of a family burial related to a plane crash victim.

One of the petitioners, Davis Mburu Karanja, who has since left the governor’s employment, now claims: “I don’t know even how my name got on the petition.”

He questioned the improbable coincidence: “How come all the staff were united in one tragedy?”

Lawyer Suyianka Lempaa, representing Karanja, told our team: “My client denies that he was ever called by the committee.” He added that Mr. Karanja “did not have any relative on that flight.”

The Compensation Question

Dr. Kang’ata has confirmed representing some legitimate victims’ families in legal action against Boeing.

He told the Nation in July 2024 that he formed a consortium with US-based lawyers (Ribbeck Law) “to sue Boeing” and claimed that one Kenyan family received as much as Sh1 billion in compensation.

Ribbeck Law Chartered Founding Partner Manuel von Ribbeck (left) In Kenya. March 2021.

Boeing has already issued an apology for the crashes and paid substantial sums to compensate victims’ families.

According to Dr. Kang’ata, victims’ families were paid twice: first by the aircraft’s insurer and then by Boeing.

What remains unclear is whether the eight Senate staffers who filed the petition received any compensation from these funds, and if Dr. Kang’ata benefited from such claims.

When approached by the Nation, Dr. Kang’ata insisted off-record that no money came from the petition by his eight employees.

The Nation contacted Boeing regarding whether any of these eight names were presented for compensation.

Boeing’s corporate media manager Leslie Thomson referred inquiries to the Ethiopian Accident Investigation Bureau, which had not responded by press time.

Legal Implications

According to lawyer Lempaa, the legal issues arising from this questionable petition could include “forgery and uttering false documents,” adding that “probably, there are other crimes committed under international law.”

If substantiated, these allegations could have severe consequences.

Filing false claims for compensation from an international disaster fund would potentially constitute wire fraud under U.S. law, which carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison.

The Governor’s Response

When confronted with these questions on March 27, Dr. Kang’ata responded off-record, expressing concern about self-incrimination and suggesting he was being politically targeted.

“Juxtaposing my name or my legal practice with claims of any irregular payments from the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash shall be deemed to be malicious, defamatory and intended to injure my standing…” he wrote in a March 28 email.

It’s important to note that the NTV’s investigation found no concrete evidence that the eight claimants received compensation from Boeing or that Dr. Kang’ata personally gained from the petition.

However, the circumstances surrounding the petition, the Seattle trip, and the inconsistencies in the petitioners’ claims raise serious concerns that warrant thorough investigation.

Broader Implications

This case stands as a stark example of potential abuse of public office and exploitation of a tragedy that claimed 157 innocent lives.

If proven, it would represent not just a betrayal of the genuine victims’ families but also a profound breach of public trust.

As this story continues to develop, questions remain about what action Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission might take, whether international authorities could become involved, and what this means for the future of Dr. Kang’ata’s political career.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on NMG’s reporting conducted over several months. We acknowledge that no formal charges have been filed at this time, and the accused deserves the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.