On Monday, President William Ruto mourned the passing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, praising him as a fearless and dedicated leader committed to enhancing Iran’s global standing.
In his message of condolence on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ruto highlighted the cordial relations between Kenya and Iran. He noted that President Raisi’s choice of Kenya as his first destination on his inaugural trip to the African continent underscored these strong ties.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and seven others, was confirmed dead following a helicopter crash. The tragic incident occurred as the Head of State was returning from Azerbaijan, with the helicopter going down near the eastern border of Iran.
Rescuers found the badly damaged wreckage after a challenging night search hampered by poor weather, confirming that the helicopter burst into flames upon impact, leaving no survivors.
In response to the tragedy, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for prayers to ensure continuity in governance. Rescue efforts, led by the Red Crescent, revealed that the helicopter’s cabin was severely damaged and burned, with no signs of survivors at the crash site.
According to the Iranian Constitution, the first vice president will assume the presidential duties until a new election is held within a maximum of 50 days.
