Isaac Ongiri Recalls Rainy Homecoming That Marked Ng’eno’s Return From Kiev
Friends described Ng’eno as resilient and generous, traits that defined his political journey and cemented his reputation as a trusted grassroots organiser.
By Staff Writer
The late MP Johana Ng’eno was a formidable grassroots mobiliser who built enduring bonds with the community and remained deeply loved across the wider Narok region.
His death in a tragic helicopter crash in Nandi County has drawn tributes from colleagues, friends and constituents who described him as accessible and fiercely loyal.
Journalist Isaac Ongiri recalled the day Ng’eno returned from Kiev, Ukraine, about 21 years ago after pursuing an undergraduate law course.
Ongiri said heavy rains pounded Kilgoris as Ng’eno travelled from Nairobi but could not proceed to his mother’s Mogondo home between Murkan and Emurwa Dikkir.
“I hosted him in my small 10 by 10 house in Kilgoris town that night. Though his Kiev mission had backfired, his spirit remained unbroken,” Ongiri said.
Despite the setback, Ng’eno organised a homecoming party in the village the following weekend, drawing an estimated 5,000 people in a show of goodwill.
Ongiri remembered the Turkish single-button blazer Ng’eno left behind as a keepsake, saying it still sits in his house as a souvenir.
From Kiev, Ng’eno also brought him a JVC video camera, which Ongiri later gifted to another budding journalist after advancing in his career.
“We last spoke on January 26, 2026. His death in a tragic copter crash is a painful moment. Go well, Ole Kisiara,” Ongiri said.
Friends described Ng’eno as resilient and generous, traits that defined his political journey and cemented his reputation as a trusted grassroots organiser.
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