A disturbing incident involving Ndhiwa youth helicopter handout chaos has drawn widespread condemnation after scores of young people dangerously crowded around a helicopter in Ndhiwa Constituency, Homa Bay County, on Friday, seeking cash handouts from a politician.
The chaotic scene, captured in a viral video shared on X, showed youth swarming the chopper’s landing site at a local schoolyard, risking injury as they clamoured for money.
Prominent lawyer Nelson Havi and other leaders have slammed the practice, urging politicians to stop using public funds for voter handouts and focus on governance as Kenya gears up for the 2027 elections.
The incident occurred during a political event in Ndhiwa, a region known for its vibrant community engagement but also economic challenges, where youth unemployment hovers around 35%, according to a 2024 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics report.
The helicopter, reportedly ferrying a high-profile politician, landed at Konyango Rabuor trading centre, a hub for local gatherings. As the chopper prepared to depart, dozens of youth rushed toward it, some attempting to grab cash allegedly tossed by the politician’s entourage, echoing a 2016 Bungoma incident where a man, Saleh Wanjala, was injured after clinging to a helicopter carrying a politician.
The reckless behaviour, described as “preposterous” by Havi on X, shows the growing trend of politicians using cash handouts to sway crowds, a practice criticised as unsustainable and dangerous.
Havi’s statement, posted on August 2, 2025, reflects broader frustration with Kenya’s culture of political tokenism, where helicopters have become symbols of wealth and influence.
Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, speaking on June 23, 2025, warned that such theatrics risk perpetuating cycles of false promises ahead of the 2027 polls.
Ndhiwa, a constituency with a history of youth-focused initiatives like the 2020 motorbike distribution led by former MP Agostino Neto, has seen politicians leverage choppers to draw crowds, with one local MCA noting their “fancy” appeal for rallies.
However, this incident has shifted focus to the risks, with youth climbing onto landing gear or crowding dangerously close, prompting calls for stricter aviation safety measures.
Kenya’s helicopter culture, with 131 registered choppers as of 2017, including 61 privately owned, has grown among politicians, with figures like William Ruto and Peter Kenneth owning multiple aircraft.
These choppers, costing between Sh340 million and Sh700 million, are often used for dramatic campaign entrances, circling venues to attract attention, as noted by MP Johanna Ng’eno in 2020.
Yet, the Ndhiwa incident highlights the downside, with locals risking life and limb for handouts as small as Sh500, a practice critics argue exploits economic desperation.
Ndhiwa youth dangerously crowd around helicopters preparing to take off as they seek handouts from politicians pic.twitter.com/FL6nsV3UbX
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) August 2, 2025
A 2019 statement by Manyatta MP John Muchiri revealed that youth often prefer such handouts over sustainable state funds, perpetuating dependency on politicians’ largesse.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) mandates operators to secure landing sites, with a 2017 circular warning pilots of license revocation for safety breaches.
Despite this, enforcement remains lax, as evidenced by past incidents like the 2017 “chopper election”, where candidates’ helicopters drew crowds in rural areas like Suswa.
A 2025 Standard report noted that Ndhiwa’s infrastructure challenges, like delayed power lines, exacerbate youth unemployment, pushing them toward such risky behaviours for quick financial gain.
Critics argue that politicians’ reliance on handouts, often funded by misappropriated public resources, undermines governance. Havi’s call for leaders to “perform their duties” echoes Malala’s push for a national reflection on campaign practices.
Ndhiwa’s history of political engagement, from Neto’s youth empowerment to violent ODM grassroots polls in April 2025, reflects a community eager for change but vulnerable to exploitation.
The incident has renewed demands for programs like the Youth Enterprise Fund to be revitalised, offering sustainable solutions over fleeting cash drops.
