Kenyan Plane Crashes, Roads Minister Likely Dead

June 10, 2008 2:34 p.m. EST

Nairobi, Kenya (AHN) - A small Kenyan aircraft carrying two public officials crashed Tuesday near the country's Masai Mara game reserve, located at the southwestern part of the African nation.

On board the ill-fated six-seater Cessna plane were Kenyan Roads Minister Kipkalya Kones and Assistant Home Affairs Minister Lorna Laboso. Unconfirmed reports said the two likely did not survive the air accident.

Kones, who has served in the parliament for five terms, was appointed to the Kenyan cabinet as part of the power-sharing deal between President Mwai Kibako and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Laboso is a neophyte lawmaker.

The BBC said aside from the two, on board the crashed plane were the pilot and a security guard. Weather conditions were bad when the crash occurred.