<p> Kenyan Internal Security Minister George Saitoti was killed today alongside a junior minister and four others after a police helicopter crashed near Nairobi, the vice-president said.<br /><br />"It is unfortunate that we have lost honourable Prof Saitoti, assistant minister Orwa Ojode," Kalonzo Musyoka told journalists.<br /><br />Joshua Orwa Ojode was assistant minister for internal security. The other victims included the two pilots and two bodyguards, Musyoka said.<br /><br />He did not make any comments on the possible cause of the crash.<br />Saitoti, a candidate in next year's election to succeed President Mwai Kibaki, was the country's longest-serving vice-president.<br /><br />He was also a key figure in security measures taken in the face of attacks inside Kenya blamed on Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents who control much of neighbouring Somalia.<br /><br />Kenya invaded southern Somalia in October after a series of kidnappings and attacks on its territory that it blamed on the Shebab.<br /><br />The Eurocopter craft took off from Nairobi's Wilson airport and crashed around 8:30 am (1100 IST) in the Ngong hills near Nairobi.</p>.<p><br />An AFP journalist on the scene saw six bodies charred beyond recognition being removed from the wreckage of the helicopter that was entirely destroyed.</p>
<p> Kenyan Internal Security Minister George Saitoti was killed today alongside a junior minister and four others after a police helicopter crashed near Nairobi, the vice-president said.<br /><br />"It is unfortunate that we have lost honourable Prof Saitoti, assistant minister Orwa Ojode," Kalonzo Musyoka told journalists.<br /><br />Joshua Orwa Ojode was assistant minister for internal security. The other victims included the two pilots and two bodyguards, Musyoka said.<br /><br />He did not make any comments on the possible cause of the crash.<br />Saitoti, a candidate in next year's election to succeed President Mwai Kibaki, was the country's longest-serving vice-president.<br /><br />He was also a key figure in security measures taken in the face of attacks inside Kenya blamed on Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents who control much of neighbouring Somalia.<br /><br />Kenya invaded southern Somalia in October after a series of kidnappings and attacks on its territory that it blamed on the Shebab.<br /><br />The Eurocopter craft took off from Nairobi's Wilson airport and crashed around 8:30 am (1100 IST) in the Ngong hills near Nairobi.</p>.<p><br />An AFP journalist on the scene saw six bodies charred beyond recognition being removed from the wreckage of the helicopter that was entirely destroyed.</p>