The minister and his deputy and two of their bodyguards and two drivers were burned and become unrecognizable in the accident. The crash occurred shortly after the aircraft took off from the capital. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.
In a statement released following the accident, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has seen the deaths of six Kenyans as " a great loss for our country. " "On behalf of the government and people of Kenya I offer my sincere condolences to the families, friends and relatives of six Kenyans," Kibaki said.
According to witnesses, government officials rushed to the scene, some miles north of the capital.
Saitoti, former Vice President and Minister of Finance and Education, was declared candidate in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for March 2013. He was an ally of President Kibaki
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki announced a three-day national mourning from Monday. The flags will be flown at half mast during the mourning, according to a statement from President Kibaki on Sunday.